Motteditor's Strange Aeons PBP

Game Master motteditor

As a great idea instantly occurs to him, "Hey, guys, I have an idea. I could stay with Delmaria. No prob. Make sure she stays safe and all. What do you think? I think that's a great idea. That way, no unwanted alarms go off, see." He nods quite confidently, thinking it's a no-brainer.

Kyffin laughs, and whether the woman joins them or remains behind, hidden, he moves on to find the bard after the party does some basic 'hiding of the bodies' clean up.

Not sure where to look from here, but Kyffin will avoid going down for the moment to check upper floors if that's an option.

Tristain notes that Kyffin’s laugh mirrors the sounds he has going off in his head at the idea.

”I think you should stick with us, Lothan. We all, uh, really like your company,” Tristain tells a total truth, no lie at all, in a not-lying manner.

I'll need a Bluff check, Tristain. :D

Once you've cleaned yourselves up and hid the evidence of your passage, you head back to the first floor. Moving through the dining area, you enter the kitchen Area B6, where two servants -- a human and a gnome -- are busy preparing food. They glance up as you enter, but otherwise seem to do their best to ignore your presence, continuing to work on a meal.

There's one other door out of here, to the west. When you try it, it's locked, but you easily notice both servants look up to watch what you're doing.

Really? Oh no.

1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 0 + 2 = 6 Bluff

* * *

Tristain follows along, looking back at the servants. He would lie to them, but thinks to let Al or someone who can speak good offer words.

Al puts on his best old man smile and approaches the kitchen staff. "Has the bard already been here and did he get the wine he needs to keep his voice through the performance? Is this where the wine is kept?" Al gives the locked door a jiggle.

Bluff: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29

Kyffin likes Al's approach and tries to help.

"C'mon now, we're in a hurry."
Bluff to aid: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 0 + 2 = 6 (heroism) vs DC 10

Yeah, we are not people friendly people... except Al! Hehehe.

Also, since we're not hacking our way through the mansion, yet, Kyffin has re-sheathed his scimitar.

"Bards are notably unreliable," Starflit drawls to Al. "Wine, however, is most reliable for making parties more enjoyable, and--Alas!--my glass is empty!"

Starflit Bluff Check (Aid Another--Al): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Earlier

Tristain notes that Kyffin’s laugh mirrors the sounds he has going off in his head at the idea.

”I think you should stick with us, Lothan. We all, uh, really like your company,” Tristain tells a total truth, no lie at all, in a not-lying manner.

Narrowing his eyes, "Yeah... okay. I think I will stick with y'all." Better keep an eye on Bonk boy. I think this prove he's *utterly* lost his mind now. He's probably on the verge of blasting *us* with his magic. Best I stay with them so I can fill him full of arrows just before he does.

Currently
Shrugging, "Wine's alright. Ale is much better though," Lothan comments, cutting his narrowed eyes toward Tristain... waiting... watching... ready to draw his bow at a moment's notice.

"It's locked," one of them says shortly, looking back down almost as quickly as he glances at you. "Don't none of us have a key."

"Damnit - we don't have time for this screwing around." He looks at the party, like he's trying to remember something before turning to Lothan. "Get the door won't you?"

Kyffin steps away to make room for him up front for the moment. Once the door is unlocked, Kyffin will open it, stepping through.

"Oh don't worry about that, we'll be in and out quickly." Al smiles again at the staff while Lothan opens the locked door.

Lothan Find Traps: 1d20 + 42 ⇒ (15) + 42 = 57
Lothan Disable Device: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (1) + 36 = 37

Tristain is glad that those who can open doors are looking into the doors. Tristain could *unmake* the door, of course, but the last time he did that, he saw things he wished he hadn’t and so would prefer not to at this time.

There are bad memories there.

The servants look at you like they're astonished at your gall to start picking the lock as they work, and you can see them exchange glances. One leaves the room as Lothan struggles with it.

"I think it may be broken," he says. Failed the DC; he can take 10 next round to open it, but giving you a chance to react to the circumstances.

Starflit's got expeditious retreat and silence on her spell list if someone wants to pursue, but she's got no hold person or other immobilizing spell.

taking 10 doesn't seem like a Lothan thing

Frustrated, Lothan applies the lockpicks a second time.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (19) + 36 = 55

Kyffin lets the servant go. He's itching for a fight anyway - anything to thin the herd before the witching hour.

Assuming Lothan is finally successful, Kyffin opens the door and steps through.

Tristain is keep a look out while Al works, and follow the others into the room when the door is opened.

This rectangular room is filled with wooden racks that hold an impressive wine collection. Doors exits to the south and east. It seems suspicious that this room would be locked, particularly during a party, so you look around and discover a secret door in the east end of the north wall. It opens up to a 5-foot-square shaft that descends into a basement. Tristain sees the other two servants exit the kitchen, glancing back at you several times.

"Let's do this quick!" Starflit urges. "It looks like we'll be having company fairly soon, and I'm guessing we don't want to get trapped inside an enclosed space."

Kyffin agrees, "Now we're onto something. Let's go!"

He trundles down the shaft. If there is no ladder/stairwell, he'll airwalk down (remember that's communal folks - everyone has air walk going).

"Let's go, we'll lock that door behind us, it's unlikely the guards have a key to the wine room." Once the door is locked, Al will follow Kyffin through the secret passage.

Tristain, using his own magics to fly, floats after the party.

”Yeah, we should lock that door. Let’s get on…”

"I got it." Lothan takes care of the door and then follows after the others.

You descend to a darkened chamber has masonry walls and flooring. It is featureless except for two corridors that lead east and south and a heavy-duty, wall-mounted ladder that ends in a small chute with a door to an upper floor.

As you look around, you find another secret door on the north wall and a small button. You think to yourselves, Hey, maybe I should press that button. It might do something." It's just lying around. It seems to have a purpose, or maybe it doesn't. I don't know, I'm just the GM.

Starflit casts detect magic and scans the area. Then she uses mundane means (her eyes) to look for traps.

Starflit Perception Check (find traps): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (8) + 22 = 30

Kyffin looks to open the secret door, leaving the button alone for now - unless they seem connected (which he hopes Starflit will spot).

He waits for her review before opening the door.

Eyes going wide, "Hey! A button! I do love to push me some buttons. Okay, stand back one and all, let's see what the ol' Lothan can discern of this button." Rubbing his hands together, he anticipates pushing the button.

Perception: 1d20 + 42 ⇒ (14) + 42 = 56

Starflit stands back. Far back.

+42??!! Seriously?

Tristain stands well back, knowing how good/bad Lothan is at pushing buttons. A core skill, really. A top notch button-pusher. Here it might useful. This one time.

There is no magic that Starflit can sense down here, and Lothan's investigation doesn't reveal any traps. The button's effect remains a mystery, but it seems unlikely that it would cause any immediate harm here if you push it. Perhaps it would do something of some sort in another area?

"Well, it's not trapped. So, barring any objections, I do believe it's button-pushing time." And Lothan does just that. Unless somebody stops him - for some crazy reason - he pushes the button and then looks around and listens, wondering if he'll be able to hear or see anything that might have changed.

Perception: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (17) + 35 = 52

Lothan hears a bell chime to the north through the secret door.

Overall map is updated. Note these are 10-foot squares.

Narrowing his eyes, "Bell chime to the north, right through our secret door here." He nods in its direction. "Time to go! And see what waits to kill us," he says with a wry grin. "After you, big guy." He steps aside, allowing Kyffin to go first.

"Bells?" Kyffin shrugs, and pushes open the secret door, weapon at the ready and a spell on his lips...

He activates his sacred armor (+3) as he opens the door.

Tristain follows along, after being completely wrong with what might happen with the pushing of the button.

He will follow along at the back, and flying 5' up.

Al follows Kyffin as the party heads towards whatever was alerted by the bell.

posting will be spotty for the next 9 days, but I'll still get stuff up when able

Not quite feeling right, Starflit casts another detect magic cantrip and follows behind Kyffin and Al.

The secret door has no lock and the hinges are on the other side, with no discernible means of opening it from this side. You can try to force it, or break it down if you want.

hardness 9, hp 60, break DC 28; DC 30 Strength to force it. Sorry, I should have been clear on that, and I don't want to assume that you want to do that.

Tristain ponders simply *unmaking* the door, but also waits to see if anyone has any good ideas before using his mental magics. Unmaking the door won’t leave a lot of evidence around about what happened, but it will be harder to offer an explanation as to what happened.

Disintegrate at the ready if no one has other ideas…or there might be a latch or keyhole about that might offer a way in.

Tristain looks for a way to open the door.

1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 20 + 2 = 32 Perception

Al reaches forward and rings the doorbell a second time. "Maybe they just didn't hear us."

Kyffin also counsels waiting as Al rings the bell again. "No need to spend such a powerful spell on a door." he chuckles.

Al reaches forward and rings the doorbell a second time. "Maybe they just didn't hear us."

Lothan shrugs. "Maybe. Would could've simply missed something. I doubt it because I don't miss stuff. I just don't. I'm awesome like that," he says with complete confidence and an arrogant grin, winking.

"Anyway, it's either that or it's some loser on the other side who really just doesn't want anyone to come in all willy-nilly." Lothan takes one more look just in case.

Perception: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (11) + 35 = 46

There's no obvious reaction, even after Al rings the bell a second time. There are other ways to go if you don't wish the break down the door at this point. As noted, map is up on the overall slides

3d20 ⇒ (20, 12, 7) = 39

Tristain opts to unmake the door using a Disintegration. He’s getting tired of this party, and his social energy (already not a lot) was running out.

Kyffin advances swiftly past the dusty door. He smiles at Tristain as he goes. "OK fine." he grouses grinning, "Damn doorbells!"

His ioun torch is out and active, just in case they run into an area of darkness. His scimitar is out, and his sacred armor going...

Starflit hangs back a bit, expecting that the bells have alerted someone/something and an ambush is likely inevitable. She then looks and listens for any sign of pursuit coming up behind the group.

Starflit Perception Check: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29

Rows of cell doors, each fit with a small barred window, ring the outer edges of this room, except to the south where a corridor leads away from the area to a door barred with a piece of iron. At the center of the chamber is a dark pit in the stone masonry floor. A thick layer of dust lies on the floor, marred by a recent set of footprints.

"Are the footprints coming AND going?" Starflit whispers to those toward the front. Then she casts detect magic again, feeling certain the dungeon is not unguarded.

A sudden thought hits her. "If there's only one set of tracks in thick dust...doesn't that indicate any prisoners here haven't been fed regularly? The bard we seek may no longer be among the living...."

"Yeah, I don't think we want to look in the cages." Kyffin shudders as he can't help but think about it.

He continues to air walk at 5' up, and suggests the others do the same, "Climb up to about 5' or so. That way we won't leave any tracks of our own. Our pursuers might think we went another way."

He follows the plain footsteps, rushing along before the cavalry arrives.

OK all, here's the discussion thread for the Strange Aeons campaign, so we can start discussing. I suspect I'll be ready start gameplay after Thanksgiving/start of December.

Remember, since technically your characters don't even know who they themselves are, I'd prefer to not actually talk too much at all about your builds here, at least for the moment.

As far as background, you will be in a fugue state when the game begins. Per the Player's Guide, you will feel as if they are emerging from a fog or a dream, but have trouble remembering who they are and how they got into their current situation. The only memories that remain are but vague hints and gut feelings—hardly clear recollections. A PC may recall only bits of an early childhood in a merchant family, while another might remember being born in Oppara, but nothing else. It is up to you to determine how little or much you can recall. Feel free to begin the campaign as a complete blank slate. No matter what, you will have no memories of the last 5 years.

I've already got a sense of a few of your characters. I am wondering if anyone would mind playing a female character? It seems as if early sketches are all males, and I'd like to have a little more diversity if possible (if no one thinks their concept works with a female character, I'll deal).

--

Another thing to possibly think about -- the start of the campaign is a bit odd and I'm not 100 percent sure how well it's suited to PBP. I'm wondering if there would be any interest in doing "live PBP": We could pick a day/time when we can all be on for a few hours at the same time and play the opening scene more quickly before getting into the more traditional PBP. If that ends up not being possible, I'll modify it slightly to work.

(I work 4 to midnight Eastern time Tuesday-Saturday, so I'm guessing this would probably have to happen on a Sunday/Monday evening to best synch up -- I think several of you are west coasters...)

I seem to remember having no gear as well when we awaken. How about clothing? My character wears distinctive clothes, and I'm not sure if I'm in that, or hospital-whites.

Hello everyone! I'm looking forward to this campaign. In the general nature of things, please let me know if I do something, regularly, that rubs you the wrong way. Chances are, I don't mean to.

You can PM me anytime to talk about the campaign, or chat (preferred). PM me though to get my email address for chat - I don't like posting it on the boards. :)

Also, in pretty much every campaign I'm in, I track the group treasure. Happy to do so here as well if folks want me to. The main reason is that I've developed a treasure tracking spreadsheet (link) which is pretty good, if I do say so myself. If you have any questions about how it works, please ask.

As for a 'group' session, I'd prefer Monday, but I can make Sunday happen if need be. I'm in the Bay Area, CA so I'm a few hours behind Motteditor. So Monday evening is my Monday afternoon - which is ideal for me.

I'm an Iowan, so yay Central time. I could do a Monday night. I till need to get my profile set up, but I'm here!

Buy your gear normally. Everything else will be made apparent to you. :)

Also, in pretty much every campaign I'm in, I track the group treasure. Happy to do so here as well if folks want me to. The main reason is that I've developed a treasure tracking spreadsheet (link) which is pretty good, if I do say so myself. If you have any questions about how it works, please ask.

Tristain stops gently knocking his head against the wall to smile briefly in welcome for Kyffin in this campaign and offers a second smile in thanks for the loot tracking. He then returns to his wall-bonking of regret, shame, and angst.

He bangs because he expects something to happen. He's been waiting for something to happen...but he's not sure what is going to happen nor why he wants it to happen. But that's why a good bang is a good bang. You don't need to answer questions like that when your head hurts.

Full disclosure, I have almost no memory of my previous ideas for this campaign, Mott, so switching to a lady shouldn't be any issue =P

As for a more rapid, back and forth coordinated session, Monday evenings are often free for me and I'm generally up late (1 am EST) anyhow.

And welcome to you, Euan! I lurked along with your Shackled City game nearly from the start (I stumbled onto it a few months after you'd began) to finish. I still dig how you took that 1 level of witch =)

Mott, can you (or someone else who is more on point than I am =P) remind me what the guidelines are for these characters? I recall you're not a fan of pet-classes, are we staying away from some books entirely as well? Are we using a beefy 25pt buy or are we amping up our feelings of helplessness with a smaller pool of points?

Those are very good questions. I have to admit I didn't look at the stat arrays of the characters I've already seen. Did you guys use 20 or 25? Do you have a preference? I know as a player I like 25 :) but I do wonder if that contributes to some of our fights feeling a bit easier than maybe they should be (along with 5 instead of 4 players). I'm willing to do whichever you guys want.

I'm fine with any of the Paizo books (and probably any archetypes I've written myself if you have them, though I don't know that any are super appropriate for this campaign).

Ah! I finally have a proper profile. Excellent...

I'd be up for a 20 or even 18 point buy, given our increase in party size and the nature and themes of the AP. A 15-pt buy makes me a little skittish though =P

Nice to meet you Tenebrynn. Yes, that level of witch was sure special. :) Glad you enjoyed the campaign! We had a blast.

I used a 20pt buy. Happy to change it up if needed. I don't have a strong opinion.

I'm wondering if there would be any interest in doing "live PBP": We could pick a day/time when we can all be on for a few hours at the same time and play the opening scene more quickly before getting into the more traditional PBP. If that ends up not being possible, I'll modify it slightly to work.

(I work 4 to midnight Eastern time Tuesday-Saturday, so I'm guessing this would probably have to happen on a Sunday/Monday evening to best synch up -- I think several of you are west coasters...)

*bonk*

Tristain stops bonking long enough to scrunch up his face to read things written into the invisible air. He reads and he ponders, then speaks to the empty air.

"I cannot do Moondaes, as I am very busy, but on the day of Sun, one would find my open opportunity for mirth."

Tristain cackles at something he said, and goes back to bonking.

*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*

dot, need to update the character...

I had originally envisioned Tenebrynn as an elf, but now that I made her a gnome, I'm really liking how she's turned out. Yay!

*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*

Tristain stops bonking his head for a moment, looking around at something he cannot place. Again he speaks words that he thinks no one will hear.

"I feel like something has ended...something old, yet incomplete, but something that needed to end so that something new would grow. I don't get it. Wait...no, this is silly."

Tristain goes back to bonking to pass the time.

*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*

Just to confirm, sounds like we're going with a 20-point buy.

Also sounds like Mondays/live posting might not work so I'll figure out a good way to do the first scene normally.

I still need to review some characters, but I think I could be ready to start relatively soon (i.e. this week) if people want. However, the ol' ball and chain is home Dec. 16, and of course the holidays are coming up, both of which may affect my posting rate (I'm heading to Napa Valley for several days over New Year's, for example, and won't be posting). We can start with the knowledge that we may have some breaks in the early going, or do we want to just wait until the new year. (I'd rather get started, but will leave it up to a vote.)

I'd rather start as soon as possible, and suffer through whatever delays occur as they occur. There will (almost) always be something for someone that slows us down. Might as well plunge in and handle breaks as they come.

So yeah, my vote is to start now.

*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*

Tristain stops bonking to look around, a thought occurring to him. He looks eager to do something even though he doesn't know what it is. He's ready...he thinks.

Then he goes back to bonking because it feels so good.

*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*

I agree with the eager one and the hollow-headed one. Let's begin.

Agreed as well! Huzzah!

I still haven't any sweetener for my gruel!

I think I need characters from Tenebrynn, Belzoni and Heinrich.

(I have builds from everyone but Belzoni, I think, but I also need a little more of your background as you envisioned it -- you don't know what you've been up to the last five years but you can fashion some form of childhood concept.)

when you say you need characters from some of us, what exactly do you mean, oh illustrious gm?

I need to know your general life before the last five years. While you can choose to have your character not know anything about his/her life, I need some general idea so I can figure out how you got to where you are and also some clue of your motivations/concerns/etc.

What was your childhood like? What were you doing before the last five years began, etc. etc.

Ah, no tabula rasa's then. Understood. Hmmm.

What about...
[opening narration] Water... Earth... Fire... Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony.

No, no. That's been done. I shall ruminate!

Right, right. I think I came up with something decent while still keeping my more-or-less blank slate approach. Is what I have now suitable for you, good sir, or are you hoping for a little more?

Yes, I think that should be good. Thanks.

I believe Belzoni is complete, both background and Herolab crunch are included on his profile, gear is included, but nothing is equipped for stat purposes as we start with nothing

Did my submission work, Warden?

Yeah, I think I'm good.

If everyone can let me know their initiative and Perception modifiers, plus AC (assume with your gear for the moment), I think we can get started.

Oh, and also, a basic description, as Heinrich has:
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: 126 lbs
Hair: Receding, brown
Eyes: Dishwater Gray

Belzoni is a mountain of a man at 6'7" and 265 lbs. His olive complexion, brown eyes, and black hair is offset by the flecks of gray starting to appear in his beard.

*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*

And we're underway. Let's see where we go in the next five years and 10,000 posts...

I took some liberties with that first scene, as I think it would play very differently at a table than via PBP.

Euan, you'll see I've added a couple map links to the top of the page. You'll have permission to look at them, but I'll move all the "figs." Unfortunately I haven't found an easy way to add coordinates to my maps, so if I move you to a wrong spot at any point (or forget to move you at all, which sometimes happens), just holler.

(The rest of you should also see I've added the map links, but you all should be familiar with how I work them at this point. :) )

Sure, no problem. I did mapping that way for a while too, so I'm familiar with the style. Thanks for the heads up!

Could you also add the treasure sheet link as well please?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Q-s3hzz7YcKl8OnvY8uakB8bR9INh-hwcaM wuk5UCto/edit?usp=sharing

(link)

Thanks!

As some of you don't have character sheets in your alias (which is fine), can you please send them to my email: ruethday (AT) ptd.net

Thanks!

motteditor - a space crept into the treasure tracker link. Could you please remove the %20 in the middle of the link? Should work fine then. Thanks!

Some nice artwork that I didn't want to show earlier as it shows how you were possibly able to get out if you didn't have a kineticist to just kill the not-doctor from inside the cell.

Hey now, we've already determined I peaked at that moment, so it's all good in the hood.

Heinrich, can you please include a miss direction roll for me in your posts (when they have you throwing bombs)? Will save me a little time. Thanks!

Will do, sir!

I realize a couple of you are seeing this for the third time and everyone else for the second (unless you read this post first and the other ones later, but for Euan: My wife returns home tomorrow from med school, so my posting might be a little sporadic until she leaves again Jan. 8. It's likely I won't have time to post at all Friday or Saturday, though after that I should still be able to find a little time.

Thanks for the heads up. Have a great few weeks and we'll see you when we see you. :D

Just a reminder that I'll be out of contact until next Wednesday. Happy New Year, all!

Hey guys, as four of you already know at this point, I'm heading down to see the ol' ball and chain once again Sunday-Thursday. With lots to do before then, I'm not likely to post until I get home.

Behave while I'm gone, and remember if you root for the Pats to win the Super Bowl, you could get a prize when I get back. :)

Actually, while I'm gone, you can level up, since that'll keep you occupied in my absence (though changes won't actually take effect until your characters rest; fortunately, it's getting close to dinner time). Go Pats!