PFS 5-16 Destiny of the Sands Part 3: Sanctum of the Sages (Inactive)

Game Master TheBobJones

Recruited characters only - please dot in.

Looking forward to it, mate. We can totally rock this for Gameday 4. It may be a little while before I have Xûll updated...

But at a minimum, I will get him a better weapon (depending upon his gold reserves, possibly adamantine, possibly magical... probably can't afford both). I'd also like to enchant my armor.

I will also pick up some rope and a wayfinder.

Please do let me know if you want me to try to find other players for this (or if you're covered).

Woo! Deleting dot in the gameplay... Working on getting Pooka updated tonight. Looking forward to this. Kinda wish I was using Cyrus, or if I had another character in the scarab sages, but this should still be good fun.

Loved the intro, really helps set the scene.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Thanks Xull - we have 3 so we could use 1-3 more. If they are as good as Diri and Chumley that would be awesome.

Heh. That's pretty high praise there. Seriously, Damo and PapaSteve did a great job in training us noob PbPers with their Confirmation runs.

@GM, Ok, since I feel dumb referring to you as "the GM", what do you prefer being called here? Damo and PapaSteve are relatively easy, but should I just call you GM_TheBobJones?

You can really call me whatever you want. We save real names for our own personal corner of the boards.

Feel free to check the recruitment thread, I will be recruiting for this game. Preference will be given to Xull's friends first. (They don't need to post there)

I hope to start by Monday at the latest. Lots of RP so it might be tight getting it in. Disclaimer, I will not give you all a bad gaming experience to have a 10% shot at a boon. So if we make the deadline - cool, if not - we tried.

Personally, I tend to just say GM when I'm referring to those whose names I know... unless I'm not talking about the game. Then it's just "John", "Steve", "Jack", "Jyri", etc.

I'll have a look over the Confirmation threads and see if there are other worthy players with a stable of PFS characters. So glad we did that. I'm almost 100% certain I'll do it again for GameDay 5. I may or may not take a break from RoW to do so this time, though (running 3 games was insane).

You handled yourself with dignity and grace - well done. And look at all the talent you recruited!

Hope you don't mind that I linked your GM profile page - it is perfect. Remember imitation is the highest form of flattery! If you object I will pull it.

I sent some feelers out to a couple of the players from my confirmation crew, but I am not sure if they have characters in the right level range. I'll wait a bit for responses and figure out what we want to do as a group first before we offer anything.

Okay, just sent some PMs. Only one from PapaSteve's Confirmation had any PFS experience... and I had to stop at 3 invitations. So, I invited Luthor Volandis from Steve's game, Juniperkitsu (Rin) and Jokard the First (Varus) from my game.

Upaynao (played Boris) would be great to have also (but I don't want to invite 4 and then have to turn someone away). Due to the alphabet, I checked his profile for PFS aliases last (so it had nothing to do with preference).

GM, no issues at all with linking my profile page. It's actually been linked or copied by quite a few people. I've even provided the source text to help some with the formatting of their plagiarism. Of all people, mate, you are the most welcome to it (and Steve if he asked).

Thanks Xull & Pooka.

Reading the adventure yesterday it seems interesting. You three will do well; not sure we need a full compliment of 6, but let's see where it goes.

Luthor just declined. Invited Upaynao!

Heh, he's in my First Steps game that's hopefully ending before Thanksgiving. Not sure what level ranges he has though.

Both players from my table that I PM'd had to decline, no characters in the range.

On another note, Pooka is updated.

Purchased a scroll of endure elements with 2 castings to replace the one used (50gp), a wayfinder (250gp), and an amulet of natural armor +1 (2000gp).

AC is now 24/13/23, and I can cast light when those stupid demons cast darkness.

Still feel like I need something else...

Sorry guys, I played all three last year :(

I hope you enjoy part 3 as much as I did though!

Also, I'm perfectly willing to play a pregen to replay for no credit, should you not have enough people for a legal table.

Thanks for letting us know.

So once Xull checks in about Juniperkitsu (Rin) and Jokard the First (Varus) from my game then we can move forward and grab some from the recruitment thread.

Thanks for all your help on this!

I also had BlueMoose (Lissa) offer to play pre-gens, as he doesn't have a character in range yet, but hasn't played the trilogy. Good player, just have to decide if we are ok with pregens. (I don't really mind)

Pregens are fine by me. No word from the other two yet, John, but here's hoping. Thanks for checking in Upaynao!

So the trilogy tiers are 1-5; 1-5, 3-7. I normally I wouldn't care about pregens but I would hate to have a pregen for all three.

Though they seem to be underpowered and you seem to be overpowered (not in a bad way) so that might be a nice balance.

I'm fine with pregens as well, though I'm not sure how they would work for the Trilogy. I remember there being a couple tie-ins that actually matter from previous parts that I'm not sure if the pregen could take advantage of or not.

I am still waiting to finalize my character I'll play based on what all everyone else has. (I'm "that guy" that always flip flops on what to play until everyone else has decided.)

In a parallel universe, I am playing in the Emerald Spire superdungeon. We have had a few times where some people needed to play pregens (should say wanted to, so they didn't have to half track and could apply full credit to another character)

What we did was picked pre-gens that were the "closest" to our characters, and just skinned them to be the same character for story continuity, obviously following the pregen sheet for all mechanical stuffs.

This is a bit different obviously, but even in PFS you can get creative with how you handle it. The point still stands though if there are chronicle things that tie between scenarios - not being able to tie a chronicle to the actual pre-gen. If it is just chronicle boons, then it shouldn't matter if you use all pre-gens, provided you assign the chronicles all to the same character number.

I would generally lean towards 'organic' characters, but would rather have a good player and a pregen than the opposite. I don't think that adds anything to the discussion, just something to think about. :)

I don't think as a Pregen you can benefit from chronicle boons while playing that pregen, was what I meant ;)

Either way, completely open myself.

You are correct on that one... Like playing with a fresh character each time. Reset button. I'm adding things that do not need to be added to the conversation. Sorry. :)

-Posted with Wayfinder

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving weekend is going well :)

Have we heard back from anybody? I was going to try and finish a character and base what I'd play on what all we had in the group, but I might do something crazy and just make a character without looking at group composition (probably a first for me...)

Also, I GMed Day of the Demon today, as it was fresh in my mind.

Do the character without looking at group composition, much more fun that way.

By the way, GM, I haven't heard back from anyone else so it may be time to put out feelers for players you already know (maybe Bold Strider is looking for a game, Keith (Raven) has a heap of characters and there are a few other folk I'm sure you also play with (or have played with) in your other PbPs.

Otherwise, *shudder*, there's always recruitment. I'll happily help you board-stalk any potentials.

I already have a bunch on the recruitment if you want to pop over there and look. Feel free to PM me with any thought. I will PM (Raven)

That goes for Pooka and Wolfspirit too.

I will decide tonight and we will start tomorrow.

Was going to PM this, but figured there is no reason not to put it on here. For what it's worth, I read through Toorin, Kiddrik, and Amarok's posts, and they all seem like they would fit with this group. Some formatting things we can talk about to keep everyone on the same page, but all three seem to be willing to RP and tell a story. If any of those in our slowly widening group want in, I would still give them preference, but if not I think we have three capable recruits on the other thread.

I PM'd similar advice to John, but I had missed Amarok's existing PbP when I looked over his posts. John, please move my recommendation of Amarok to be included in the first group.

Done - PMs sent. We start tomorrow.

Please welcome

• Amarok Sandstrider - Aasimar (Archon Blooded)Monk (Zen Archer)/3
• Toorin - Transmuter wizard (Spellbinder) 2 / Investigator 1
• Warpac - Dwarven Warpriest level 4

Pooka - 5
Xull - 4

3+3+4+5+4=19/5 = 3.8 (plus Wolfspirit) so we are looking tier 4-5 no adjustments!

Welcome on board all! Can't wait to get stuck in.

*sniff*

*sniff*

*sniff*

"all clear boss"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Welcome! Sorry about the cold nose in your crotch. I've tried to stop her from doing that and it's a fools errand. Looking forward to this, should be fun!

-Posted with Wayfinder

Warpac here!

Where is the guide that shows what the tagline should be? the link I had led somewhere without a guide.

Dotting in. I'm looking forward to this. My profile is up to date, but let me know if there's anything missing.

I would like to do one thing before starting: make a roll to see if he can transfer a spell from a scroll to his spellbook.

This is a first level spell (Endure Elements) and so the spellcraft check DC is 16.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 9 + (5) = 29
Success. I will mark off one scroll of Endure elements and add Endure Elements to Toorin's spellbook.

Edit: Tag-line formatted correctly. I list prepared spells and extracts in the profile and as they are cast I modify with cross-through formatting. Feel free to look through Toorin's profile to get to know as abilities, skills, etc. Read his background if you like, as he will gladly tell anyone in the party about himself, although I'm happy to do that in character if appropriate.

Just a few things - this is part of PbP IV, but there is a good chance we will not finish in time. I am committed to running a better game than having a 10% shot at getting a boon I may or may not use.

You need to have your character updated, and all purchases made by the time our 'first encounter starts'. I will give you plenty of RL time before this happens. Just for continuity sake - post any purchases here, and any update like Toorin just did. (nice roll)

If you haven't, please read Xull's Player Guide. It will just make things run smoother.

You will notice that Amarok Sandstrider (Once he dots in) and my 'regular' players have their taglines updated. Here is the template.

Since this adventure is quite sandboxy - we will use the rule of 2. Two people decide on a course of action, and then we do it. Please use the discussion thread a lot, and leave gameplay to PC discussion. That is not to say don't discuss options in character, but at times it might be more prudent to just talk about it in an old fashion way.

Lastly, let's have some fun.

Toorin purchases 4 waterskins and 10 scrolls of Create Water. That should help make sure we have water during those long cross-desert treks. Cost 129 gp. Current gold now down to 175.5.

Edit: Let's add a set of smoked goggles, for the sun and any basilisks. Cost 10 gp. Current gold: 165.5. I realized I already purchased these earlier.

I somewhat literally got roped into doing Christmas decorations and other wife-agro alleviations, so I didn't get as done with my character as I would have liked to have tonight. I ended up going with a Tengu Vigilante (Fey Zealot) 1 / Unchained Rogue 3 that's been sitting around collecting dust after the Vigilante Playtest. He's got a LOT of special features that I'm making sure I properly capture in my stat block when I post it.

Ability-wise, he does have some overlap with Toorin in the "versatile skill monkey" category and will probably take the trap-finding duty. It can't hurt to have to characters with Knowledges, plus he has all PFS castable Druid / Ranger spells on his Spell List, so he'll have CLW wand duty as well.

Finally, he has an incredibly cool bi-polar / alter-ego Identity that he will literally never go into because of Vigilante mechanics, but I'll allude to it for RP flavor :)

Greetings, I look forward to kicking this off with you guys ^^. I've done forum roleplay for years but just cutting my teeth with pfs pbp. I'll do any purchases shortly, I think it's just wands to buy anyway,

Welcome again, everyone. Can't wait to have some fun. Xûll needs to finalize purchases (as per my post last scenario). I'm hoping to do that today.

Three parter, woo!

Also, the boons are kinda cool, but yeah - 10% chance totally isn't worth it. I'd be happy to not even worry about it at all and just go with the flow. That said, I'll do my best to push the pace. :-)

BobJones, May I suggest you include any important links in the Campaign Info section or your tagline?

Thanks for the suggestion Warpac - the campaign tab will hold quite a bit of information for you all to reference.

As we have just scratched the surface, I will add things in that are relevant for you to know. Honestly, didn't feel the need to link to a picture of Amenopheus ;).

In case it matters, I owe Grandmaster Torch a favour, from scenario 0-14 Many fortunes of Grandmaster torch

Assuming someone is capable and willing to use the scrolls on Amarok, I will be buying two scrolls of Mage Armour and two scrolls of endure elements. Otherwise I will be buying a potion of each.

It does and you should post that in character! I for one enjoy a connection to previous scenarios.

Korasu is going to be getting a Wand of Endure Elements and is happy to share the Warmth (or Cool, as it were.)

Warpac has the spell if needed and its not the first time he's needed it.

So I bought some scrolls. I realize some of them will be a bit cumbersome to use, since I need help casting them, but I am trying to be frugal. :) This armor is expensive...

I won't put us in awkward positions trying to get help casting anything off of the scrolls I got, but at least I have them, just in case things get really hairy.

If needed, Warpac will help by casting if it is out of combat.