At long last, the Pathfinder Society has reassembled the Numerian device known as the Sky Key. Initial tests suggest it is capable of projecting a location’s past into the present, allowing Society agents to peruse books from destroyed libraries and speak with echoes of long-dead heroes. Now that it has perfected the Sky Key’s controls, the Pathfinder Society is prepared to extract a slice of Absalom’s history and bring it into the present; however, there’s no telling what might be waiting inside—or who in the present might wish to wield the same power.
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It wont be long before we start. I'll open the gameplay threat a few days before we start so character discussions can get underway.
Im opening the discussion threat now so you can get to know eachother abit out of character if you want, and do some character discussions. Due to the fast paced nature, its good to know some out of character mechanics about each of your characters.
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An average height man, wearing a breastplate, enters the room. He wears an ornately decorated scimitar on his left side and caries a well made dark-wood composite longbow in his left hand. Although most of his face is covered with a dark hood, the gray of his beard protrudes past the hood, revealing his maturity.
After taking a moment to glance around the empty room, the man quietly pulls out a chair from a nearby table and makes himself comfortable.
(It looks like I might be a little early.)
I'm opening up the game play threat monday, so we have about a week to do introductions in character (and I can give a bit more background info on the special)
The discussion threat is more so we can let eachother know if there are special things about our characters, what tactics you like to use. Or if your character always goes in front, or always at the back for example.
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For those interested in motivations and background.
For the biggest part of my life, I have fought against an intimate desire to take life. An urge so overpowering that its seduction left little doubt about my future. I knew early on, that my path in life had been designated, and there was little I could do to circumvent it. That predetermined destiny, drove me to become a monster that lurked the streets of Magnimar.
Many nights, I stood in the shadows and watched as the towns simpletons made their nightly calls. Going over in my mind, all the possible ways I could end their inconceivable lives. I recall how eagerly I anticipated the day that I would no longer be able to control the urge. My chosen victim would know fear, and would fully understand the horrors that waited around every corner of this miserable world. I remember my hands trembling fiercely the day I selected my first victim. The anticipation was euphoric, beyond any ecstasy I had ever experienced. Quietly I waited, as she made her way through the business district. I watched her every move, day after day. I knew when she would be most vulnerable, and I didn’t hesitate to exploit that opportunity. I can’t put into words the conclusion of that night, but I can say that anything less than experiencing it would only diminish its true impact.
I was known as the baseline killer. Famous you could say if you consider fear to be a form of fame. There were many who lost their lives to my lack of self-control. Looking back on my deeds, I feel remorse for the families that must now endure the darkness that fallowed my wake. Thirteen lives in all were snuffed out before my reign of terror was brought to an end. Eight confirmed and five that now lie in a shallow graves.
I found the confines of prison to be stifling. I was kept separate from the general population in order to prevent them from killing me. Looking back on events, I can’t say I would have blamed them if they had. There were many nights I considered taking my own life. It would have been my final kill. It would have been easy, and those that feared my return would finally be at peace.
Held tight within the confines of the Hells, my soul became as dark as a starless night. Deep inside I withered, hoping for a quick and final death, which would leave me finally at peace and rid of the urge to kill. I longed for it, and surly it was the only inevitable conclusion.
In my darkest hour, I came across a man who spent a lifetime locked within the Hell’s embrace. Only two cell’s away from mine, I listened to the man rant about a light so bright that it blinded the world of his crime. A light, I laughed. There was no light, and I doubted either of us would ever see the light of day again. I assumed the man had lost his mind, yet he was the only human contact I had. Night after night he spoke of this light and its warmth. In time, I began to believe that this man's imaginary light had become the only warmth left for a wretch like me. The only thing left in a world that had turned its back in a declaration of denial.
The time finally came when his sermon came to an end. The nights that followed his death, brought with it endless silence. Somewhere within the darkness, I finally understood the meaning of his obsession. In his absence, I found the light, and the light brought with it, hope. Warmth within one’s self that fuels compassion, understanding, and wellness. A small shimmer of hope, that gives life purpose. In the darkness I sat, with just enough of this light to see the blood on my own hands. The kind of blood that can never be washed away and serves as a constant reminder of what I once was. I can say now, in that moment, I truly understood how much darker the world had become after I extinguished the light within those thirteen people.
Over the course of my stay in the Hells I learned to nurture that inner light. It was a small shimmer of hope in an otherwise hopeless existence. From that point on, I chose to embrace the light. Within it's warmth I found the embodiment of Sarenrae. In her light, I found forgiveness. Embraced by her compassion, I became reborn. I have now devoted myself to a new life of servitude. A life compelled by the teachings of Sarenrae in a reflection of her understanding.
The day finally came for the final decision on my last possible appeal. That appeal was my only hope for a second chance. On that day, I was brought to the top level of the Hells where I could bask in the warmth of the sun one last time. In that moment, she came to me as an effigy of redemption. She offered me one final opportunity at life, and I embraced it.
The final decision confirmed my release. Do to some impossible, unexplainable reason, they decided I should be released. It was a miracle, no doubt sent by Sarenrae.
Upon my release, I was forced to relocate out of Magnimar, so I chose to join the open-minded Pathfinder Society and move to Absalom. Working within the origination, I have been given the chance to leave my past behind and pursue a new path. Although the urge to kill still presents itself from time to time, I have found the resolve to work past it and embrace the teachings of the goddess. Through her, I have found the will to suppress the darkness.
Thank you for the background. I'll do my best to use it if I can.
Also, I've opened the gameplay thread. I've outlined what little you know of your mission at the start. Go get to know eachother :)
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I'll do the in-character bits in the gameplay thread. For OOC strategy:
Ranalus is my -1, and not highly optimized, but he's got some strengths. With +15 Perception, 40' speed, and Door Sight ability, he's a good scout. Can disable non-magical traps (+12). Moderately capable switch-hitter with a few spells. He has a good AC but not many HP. He has some gold to spend on consumables if we know what our mission will entail. His mobility and AC may make him the battlefield medic, running around with his CLW wand if need be.
I'll reveal some more info later on, and you can still pruchase items if you want before the 27th.
It generally occurs between scenarios. You mention it the next time you play.
Generally there is time in the scenario too. The venture captain gets you your mission, and before you leave you can shop for items appropriate for your mission.
If there is stuff your character wants to buy, let me know here. Your character purchased it on the way out of absalom just before this mission started.
Also, can everyone update what they played with their character on their charactersheet? Previously played adventures can give an advantage in this special... *wiggles eyebrows*
I believe mine should be updated with links to the chronicles.
Your chronicles look exelent.
Yes. Apperantly she signed up for another game as well and got accepted into that game. She decided to play with the other group.
The special starts tomorrow everyone.
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Ranalus, I looked up your deity OOC, fun choice. Don't see a lot of that. IC I have no idea, and if it weren't clear Dax is referring to Abadar.
Dax can tank or blast from range. I have good AC and HP, and can hit things up to like 120 ft without penalty. I'll be fine until we run into cold resistance.
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I just remembered I never posted in here about character mechanics. As a lower level than you all, I will likely try to stay out of the way and focus on some battlefield control mechanics. I'm particularly fond of silent image, having a wand of it and usually at least one prepared to take advantage of extended illusions. I also have the ability to use Ghost Sound within 30ft to provide flanking to anybody who needs it. I also am fond of grease and color spray, as needed.
Other than that, I have a decent collection of consumables I like to use. A wand of magic missile is my preferred standby (ping ping), I can handle my own healing with a wand of infernal healing, and I have a handful of situational scrolls/potions/alchemical items.
If anybody can benefit greatly from Enlarge Person, let me know, as I have a couple of scrolls of that on hand as well.
Scorched one, can you update Dax's profile with a statblock and chronicles?
There, copy-pasta'd.
Thank you
You can move your own marker. I have no trouble with that. In combat I actually prefer it as it saves time.
In combat I group inititive. I also process actions in order of posting. This not only makes it easier for me, but also for your buddies. If we have a large grouped initiative like now, and you can post, please do. That way, if for example Dax posts first, and says, I cast grease, everyone else can take that into acccount after posting, instead of going back to earlier post and having to adjust more and more. (otherwise you get, if Dax does A, then I do B, but if he does C, then I de D posts, and it gets really confusing really quickly)
This Dimetrodon must have been really abused by its handlers and is now looking for revenge on poor Kaa...
I did forget bless on my die roll if 13 touch hits and 12 doesn't.
I'm off to bed (I'm in europe by the way), dont do anything I wouldnt do ;)
They are not evil. Just deluded ;)
Ranalus did say he'd have limited connectivity for a few days.
Ranalus did say he'd have limited connectivity for a few days.
I was about to go to bed, timezones what they are, I figure that my middle of the night falls together with your active posting time (evening), so I tend to wait if something pops up. If not, I can bot the following morning.
It has 10 foot reach, and the ceiling is 15 foot high, so it basically can only reach under itself.
Also, how does Dax get +5 damage on his blast? I get 1 from point blank, and 2 from half your con score on an energy blast. Unless you have a point of burn that I forgot.
Oh, now I see. Shroud of water normally doesnt cause burn, but you took one freely to up your armor, and get more damage/to hit.
I hadnt see you do an action where you got burn, so I assumed you hadnt aquired any yet.
I think I said that I had 4 NL somewhere. Totally an easy thing to miss. I actually learned about AOMF yesterday. Did not know you could have a +0 Agile AOMF.
Things have gotten nice and chaotic here as we are approaching our local con weekend. I've got games both saturday and sunday, with sunday being the day we run the special. I will do my best to check as often as I can. But especially sunday will be hard.
So can I see through the illusion without disbelieving? Like can I fire?
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Without disbelieving, you cannot see through it, but it does not block any effects. In theory, you could shoot through it just fine, but you have no idea where the enemy is located. You should get another will save since you are currently standing inside the illusion, and thus interacting with it, I think, but I'm not sure about that or about what kind of action that would take, if any.
You can save agaim but untill you do you think it is real.
I recieved confirmation that there are six different boons available for players to win at the end of the game day. It will be a while, but at the end of the special, stick around for the chance to win one :)
That is a lot of boons.
CON is over. I am so dead. Got a bit of con crud too. Thank you all for your patience.
Sorry to hear you're feeling poorly.