[PFS][Level 3-5] DM Ranginui runs The Midnight Mirror (Inactive)

Game Master Tangaroa

Ah...I thought it had come up before. Thanks for the reminder!

Ahem, if forgot about that hole blind business with Kris. Is there a way around that?

We'll just say Balwyn's reading out loud to her, for the moment...

Kris isn't actually blind; she just tells people that (so people underestimate her.) She just can't see past 60 feet (and can actually see in Darkvision.) So, as long as the hole isn't more than 60 feet deep, I can actually manage.

It's like this fortune cookie message I have in my wallet, "The wise man is the one that makes you think he is dumb."

Aside from Gameplay: Kris' decisions and thought process on undead is a aspect from having grown up in Geb. Living in a nation where intellligent undead can have civilian rights elevates them to a point where she considers them equal to people. Followed by finding faith in the "faith against faiths" for having largely felt abandoned when she was (and almost died of, were it not for pure chance) human chattel left her with a level of waning respect for those with deities. In all respects, the party's hate for the shadows and their belief that it has no right to (un)live makes them seem like misguided dictators, cutting down the new to sentience. Sure, eating people's strength is bad (as is blowing up throats), though a mother dying in childbirth is only somewhat different to Kris.

Interesting angle. Such a pleasant place, Geb.

A friendly gm reminder about cold rules:
Cold rules

The first case in the link above would reflect conditions on the shadow plane.

So, parasites have the same right to life as their unwilling and unwitting hosts? Interesting theory.

I assume a "protected" character means one with magical protection, i.e. endure elements, as opposed to simply cold weather gear?

@Parasites: Alas, I fear I may venture too far into the realm of "when is life" real-life discussion that I care never to discuss (stop me if I do step into that zone,) but my imagined rationalization of being born and bred as farm stock would give her a mentality that nobody who can be somebody should be at the bottom, determined only by some force they've never met that put them down only because of why they exist and when. Were the shadow creatures mindless and incapable of thought or merit (which aren't citizen undead in Geb; them's just the working class), Kris would have no complaint of exterminating (or more usefully, controlling) them.

@Cold weather?: I would think it means it gives a +8 to the save, though is not an auto-protect. I doubt there's any parkas to buy in this coastal region, though...

Leastrie should be good on the cold, having a potion of Endure Elements.

Edit: Actually, Leastrie has a permanent Endure vs cold, so he has a potion leftover from his travels across the north.

Ah. Baldwyn has cold weather gear from a previous scenario. No Endure stuff though. Oh, the shopping list keeps growing.

So I just spent the last 10 minutes going down the forum rabbit hole of "is cold weather gear protective". Apparently the answer is gm dependent. For the sake of simplicity, I'm going with "yes, cold weather gear is protective"

I have a scroll of endure elements plus a cold weather outfit of my own (courtesy of playing Snows of Summer).

Are these shadows undead? Outsiders? I'm not sure what all this research and knowledge checking entitles us to, but if they're evil then I can't see why we wouldn't all want a Protection from Evil on us. Anyone with a ring of protection +1 get only another +1 to AC, but the bonuses against fear are definitely handy.

There's so many things that can be called "Shadows" that I pretty much just assume I'll never truly know until I get a "Roll Knowledge (Religion)" or a "Roll Knowledge (Planes)" call, do ho ho.

That's what I'm afraid of. Still, I can probably do better than Grease and Comprehend Languages for dealing with this.

Ah, you mean nicasor?

The short history of the usklands calls him a Shae. You can give me a planes check ( with the Sojourner book +4 bonus) if you wish to study up on the shae.

Shandor has a scroll of endure elements as well.

Let me know when you folks feel ready for your trip to the shadow (demi-)plane.

Map for the "House of the Night" updated.

By the way, who is carrying the mirror shard? Leastrie?

Sure

A few DM questions:

The second half is a bit more dungeon-crawley.

Do you folks want to list an order and then let someone (preferably a frequent poster, maybe a front-liner) take the lead in navigation, to streamline actions?

My impression is that earlier you came to the conclusion that after combat with damage/conditions acquired, no new doors or opened until there is a general head-nod from the party, in particular the "support" characters.

I will roll perception checks passively for you, although you can always decide to do so actively.

I also need the party stance on looking for traps, stealth, listening at doors, buffs, etcetera...

Thoughts? Contentions?

Sounds good. I'll remain at the back of the party (obviously). As far as I'm concerned, you can consider that the only thing I'll recast when it fades is Mage Armor (duration is 1 hour since it's a 1st-level wand) as long as we're exploring.

The suggested methods are often the best in pacing. zero qualms here, and no issues on any location for Kris in the order.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Baldwyn can be in the second rank and let Leastrie and Chuurock take point if they desire. The reach from his weapon puts him at an advantage of being more ready to protect either side as circumstances arise.

I'll hang back with Kris and Shandor. Way back. If we do get into a big fight, you frontliners might want to delay until Chuurock and I can Protection you. At this point, unless we end up resting here, I'm deeply committed to buffs and utility. My best offensive contribution is likely my wand.

Would Baldwyn mind being the "driver" and still be in the 2nd rank?. Based off of earlier posts, it sounds like Leastrie doesn't have as frequent access to the internet as you.

And that's with me often spacing posting, hahaha. I suppose I can back-seat drive, if the party wills it.

Actually I am on the boards all day through my mobile, but sometimes delay, if the post is going to be long. That said, I'm fine with what evs, Baldy is so boss, I trust him, even if he spent three scenarios trying to kill Leastrie.

Ah, OK, well either one then.

Sounds like you two have a history...

Looked at the map; perfect position for Kris; Close enough to see things a little far away and close enough to possibly melee, but not taking all the trapped doors to the face.

I may chime in at points while driving is decided, but I'd be a horrible main driver now that work blocked the Paizo domain. Most of my stuff is from mobile, which is gloriously prone to crashing every so often while trying to upload posts.

More than happy to have Kris driving as well. Trust the judgement as well.

Trust the judgement as well.

This is a VERY dangerous statement to make, do ho ho.

Well, I certainly don't trust the judgement of somebody keeping undead as pets!

Iron maiden is not of interest; the one door or the stairs for you folks?

I'd say check the door before moving up or down.

Perhaps the door, come back to the stairs when we've cleared the level? Seems to be the usual modus operandi for Pathfinders.

Shandor, are you familiar with alchemical power components, from Adventurer's Armory?

Liquid Ice

When you use the liquid ice as a focus, it can add a point of damage onto your ray of frost. It is a nice effect at low levels.

Right, I had heard about that before but completely forgotten. I'll check it now and buy some stuff at the end of the scenario. Thanks for the tip!

Dang it, in one session I really needed the clear spindle ioun stone fitted in the wayfinder. Ever since? Useless. Hahaha.

The clear spindle would not have helped with this effect, so don't be too annoyed :)

Barring a few paladin/cleric powers, I'm not sure how one would clear the dazed condition.

Actually, that's exactly why I'm annoyed with the item, hahaha. Damn thing, you're useless! Useless, I say! *pouts about ioun stone*

If it's any consolation, Ilquis had a Dominate Person he was itching to use had Guilford not negated his invisibility.

That does make me feel better, hahaha. =)

Leastrie, if you want to roll your next attack while we're waiting for Guilford feel free.

Is there a typical board etiquette to GMs rolling saves on a characters behalf?

Varies by GM. If it helps posting speed, then I would usually say "Go for it." Cases vary when Shirt Rerolls and reroll class abilities come into play, but setting a threshold or simply trusting a gm to use it on save-or-dies works often for me.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I guess I will go for threshold - daze is very annoying but not a total loss, and it was a lot of will saves. Poisons seem more severe.

I for one usually roll for players when the effect has an immediate effect on gameplay. On effects that don't have an immediate consequence, I'll ask the player to roll it.

Regarding the items we found, I can't make use of any of them personally. I already have a neck slot item, and already have a resistance bonus to saves.

Headband of unshakeable resolve