Reign of Winter (Inactive)

Game Master Just a Mort

Yep. Which is part of the reason I am in two minds about raising him. Without it, he is going to be... less optimal. But those are the fortunes of war!

It also means Crummock won't be doing much (apart from commanding Geist), which is why I was happy to blow pretty much all of my spell slots on buffs, since making the *rest* of the party more survivable is still a solid contribution to any fight.

Einar hadn't drawn a weapon yet, he was trying to figure out which one was going to be the most effective. interestingly enough it took me a little while to realize the 'ghost touched' blade would be more effective than the 'sword of planes'

Especially if you are raging!

You got lots of +1 rifles for now, and besides when you're done with the whole thing, you'll get it back.

If you don't want to raise him - you get to do the fight with Mr Whiskers, Einar, yourself, Greta and Geist.

If you wish to continue the mod without him - then you just get one less person in party.

But please give me confirmation on whether you want to raise him or not because dialogue will be different.

I know :-)
Realistically, I will leave the decision to Mr Whiskers, since he is the one casting the spell...

ummm if we don't raise him, and I'm not saying we shouldn't, but if we don't, *dibs* on Maggie the gun :-)

I'm not really sure how Earth glide works, could Einar go in using it and pick up the gun and come back out? Possibly drawing a couple of the 'shadow demons' after him?

ummm if we don't raise him, and I'm not saying we shouldn't, but if we don't, *dibs* on Maggie the gun :-)

I know that is highly unlikely to be what we do, but if we did, I don't think we would keep the weapon - we haven't looted any of our other allies that have died, after all... Crummock would consider it disrespectful.

(More to the point, we need to leave something for the next generation of adventurers to find ;-))

(Also, it would throw the WBL off a wee bit...)

You can move through rock, but it doesn't give any ability to see through rock.

We would need to figure out where Maggie and the other equipment is, go in, come out of the rock to grab it, then go back into the rock. The other option is blind grabs, so 50% miss chance. Ether way, you are exposed enough for them to react.

They saw you earthglide, so they will probably try to be ready for it.

Just woke up and haven't done the math for what it costs, but Mr. Whiskers will be raising Dimitri. More of a question with Viktor. We do have both bodies, right?

Now to go read the gameplay.

figures....

OK back to the other question, we bring him back, could Einar retrieve the gun safely using Earth Glide? I assume they would know something is up, but if a couple of them followed him we could bushwhack them... I know that's a lot of ifs...

@Mr Whiskers: It is 6500gp - 1500 for the Limited Wish, then 5000 for the Raise Dead.

@Einar: Honestly? It is probably safer just to have Dimitri use one of the +1 Rifles, for the moment.

So, 5000 gp for raise dead plus 1500 for limited wish = 7500 per person. They will still have the negative levels at that point.

It is only a 375 gp premium over the cost of a scroll of Raise Dead.

Mr, Whiskers doesn't have the cash for that. We are going to have to figure out funding at this point.

@Mr Whiskers: We have plenty of loot. The cost isn't an issue.

Re: Bringing back Viktor, well, bluntly, we already have what we need from him, and there is no guarantee that he wants to come back (especially given some of the stuff he said), so I would rather *not* waste 6500 on a failed attempt...

As for Victor, lets not raise him. It just keeps us from having to decide what to do with him once we are finished. If Baba Yaga want's to punish him she can bring him back.

So what if Dimitri 'wills' Maggie to Einar and then something happens... :-)

Viktor's body is in Rasputin's sanctum. Raising Viktor is not an option at this point of time.

The rules on incorporeal is an incorporeal creature can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior, and so cannot pass entirely through an object whose space is larger than its own.

Alright, looks like the smart way to do this is combine some scribing of scrolls with spell choices.

Greater Heroism doesn't last long and Mr. Whiskers doesn't get many, but it would make the person immune to fear.

Communal Resist Energy should work scribing it as scrolls. That costs money and time, but I think we can afford it better than using up the spell slots.

Mage Armor would help protect against incorporeal attacks, but I'm not sure it is worthwhile given their attack bonuses. I am doubtful the +4 AC would matter.

Mass Owl's Wisdom may be worthwhile just to give everyone a better Will save. That would require using a spell slot.

Is it reasonable to lecture everyone on shadow magic to give a circumstance bonus on the shadow conjuration? The shadow demon can't do real spells.

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We have seen the desecrated areas. What god are they dedicated to? Was Rasputin wearing any holy symbol or using a divine focus in casting?

Rasputin was not using a divine focus nor a holy symbol when casting. The desecrated areas were dedicated to Charon.

I will think about the shadow magic business.

The order of the whole thing would be they cast, then you make Spellcraft check(which you autopass) then yell to your allies as the spell is being cast, "It's an illusion, disbelieve!"

And they get +4 for will save against the shadow spell for disbelieve. But not the other save(if there is one), later.

Of course they should kick you for lying since shadow spells are 20% real.

If your allies had ranks in spellcraft(like Crummock), you could brief them in advance, else for someone like Einar, finger waving is finger waving. Or even worse, because it's all SLA work, there is no visible manifestation.

I will state this now-since shadow spells are 20% real - you get 1 chance to figure it isn't. If you do not figure it out then no matter what happens after - you do not figure it out.

Here

And even if you have spell immunity to the shadow effect - if it is used to create something else - you cannot walk through the thing created unless you make a will save, and even so, it has a 20% chance of affecting you on successful will save.

Alright, what constitutes proof?

In the case of the shadow summoning, we know that creatures can not be summoned. The forbiddence spell prevents it and dimensional travel. A creature popping up in an area like that should be less believable.

I recognize that they have not yet done a shadow summoning spell, but I wanted to make that point first.

In the case of shadow evocation, the creatures are obviously made of shadow. Our friends have seen how the spells haven't been fully effective against those who know it. We can show them books detailing how the creatures are known to create these effects.

The thread you linked to was random encounter with no fore knowledge. That isn't our situation.

It seems like there should be a bonus, less than +4 but greater than +0, for this situation. It would not be cumulative with the +4 for being told it was an illusion.

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On the topic of informing them, speaking is a free action that can be done outside your turn. Is there any reason I can't just shout it each time? It isn't lying if I claim "Shadow Spell!" after explaining ahead of time that means it is only partially real.

I won’t even shadow summon. Shadow summons are le crap because if disbelieved they do 20% damage, not to mention the 20% normal nat armor bonus or whatever it is, attack riders have 20% chance of being successful (meh), not to mention that summons don’t have good to hit, so they wouldn’t be able hit you in the first place.

Let’s not get into the rules conundrum on whether since it is used as a summoning spell whether you get the (summoning) descriptor. I’d rule yes – if you use shadow conjuration to mimic a summoning spell you get (summoning) descriptor, so no they can’t shadow summon creatures in. Shucks to be them, but c’est la vie.

I will automatically give everyone the +4 bonus to will saves (as proof being shown) to disbelieve as long as you pass your spellcraft check (which you will) and will bot you yelling it out. That’s all the will save bonus you’ll get.

As per this:
“If any viewer successfully disbelieves an illusion and communicates this fact to others, each such viewer gains a saving throw with a +4 bonus”

Though I feel that the reading of the bottom phase reads more like - only after you save then you can tell the rest - but it's going to be really odd when a shadowy fireball hits the entire party at once.

I think I'll just give the +4 for spellcrafting the spell, and call it a day. Less confusing for all parties involved.

Alright, thanks.

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Now to go in character and make some plans.

Anyone want to help me guess what the fourteen spells were on Rasputin?

1 strong divination
2 strong abjurations
1 strong transmutation
7 moderate abjurations
1 moderate transmutation
1 weak transmutation
1 weak abjuration

Strong = 7th - 9th level
Moderate = 4th - 6th level
Faint (Weak) = 3rd level or less.

I'm assuming Rasputin is an Oracle given the sheer number of spells and the spells we have seen him cast.

Actually there were 2 more I forgot to put.

1 moderate divination, 1 weak transmutation.

Ok complete buff list - 16 spells - (I got some of the categories wrong the last time) - sorry not used to arcane sight:

1 Strong divination
2 Strong abjurations
1 Strong transmutation
1 moderate divination
2 moderate abjurations
1 moderate transmutation
6 weak abjurations
1 weak transmutation

gosh....

Mister Whiskers, I am so out of my element here, this is the highest I have actually gotten a character. I've played one shots fairly high, but I was basically following 'Crummock' around and cleaning up after him.

I have no knowledge of spells or combat at this level, I figure Einar will put up all the buffs he can and attack with the 'ghost touched' sword. If we want him to disable the device he can use his 'Burglars bracers' to 'take 10' on disable devices one time in combat.

What else can we do to help prepare?

Alternatively, the party can attempt to disable the World Engine, though its partly magical nature requires the trapfinding ability to do so. While a successful DC 32 Disable Device check disables the device’s energy pulse for 2d6 rounds, completely disabling the World Engine requires additional measures. As a full-round action, a single character can attempt a DC 40 Disable Device check.

If the check is successful, the World Engine takes damage equal to the result of the check (this damage bypasses the device’s hardness). Failing this check by 5 or more triggers the energy pulse immediately.

I am not sure if I should give you the hp and hardness of the World Engine since you never stepped into H7.

I will warn you it will take more then one check.

Just a heads up - if Einar dies and cannot be raised(for whatever reason) it's a giant mission failed - because no one can call down Rasputin's sanctum.

if Einar uses the glove he can take 10 the first time for 10+30, after that you all would have to keep Rasputin off of him so he can keep rolling.

so the question is kill the shadow demons before or after we drop the world engine, I believe Crummocks idea was to kill the demons first.

we should pass out the vials of curing and such items.

Crummock has a point.

The rules on incorporeal are honestly rather borked.

The rooms are filled with wires. So you could create a seamless wall from the wires to the celling, but the incorporeals could potentially travel through the wire to the other side of the wall.

I would say that incorporeal is not the same as earth glide since the incorporeal rules state the following:
“An incorporeal creature can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior, and so cannot pass entirely through an object whose space is larger than its own.”

It means that they can’t exactly follow you through the earth, when you Earth glide, but rather can only stay on the surface.

Travelling through wires/debris could possibly work since part of them would still be on the other side of the wall before they reached the other side and stuck out.

On one hand, I don’t want to negate character actions, on the other hand it is not too far-fetched to say that they can go under the wall of force, via debris/wires.

To be honest - the purple mist was in place for your protection. Imagine - you see the BBEG at the end of the corridor - you'd probably start nuking him from afar and make a beeline for him, which would trigger EVERY SINGLE encounter of the place on you at one go.

I'd rather not deal with that kind of chaos, thanks.

Nor would it be fair, CR wise.

The rooms are filled with wires. So you could create a seamless wall from the wires to the celling, but the incorporeals could potentially travel through the wire to the other side of the wall.

There has to be a minimum size that allows them to squeeze through. If not, Force Wall would become useless because (as an example):

Force wall is generally fine. It's just no one expects to be trying to stop incorporeals from flapping around.

So, did Rasputin ever move from where we met him?

He did. He moved forward to use waves of ecstasy, then he moved backwards to get out of the silence radius because Crummock dropped his silence rock.

Thanks!

so a timing question, we ran from Rasputin on day one... are we going back on day two? Or are we raising Dimitri on day two and hitting Rasputin on day three?

Thinking about going and using the hammer on the thing in the weapons shack on day two and cleaning it out... just thinking about it...

Mr. Whiskers needs to use his single 7th level spell slot on Limited Wish to raise Dimitri from the dead. He is not going to fight Rasputin that day.

I was seriously considering scribing a scroll that day as well. I need to redo the math though, I originally used minimum caster level and I don't think that is what we want here for the communal resist energy.

If the rest of the group wants to go in while Mr. Whiskers is doing this, go ahead. Just don't get yourselves killed!

Just tell me when you guys want to get moving. I'm happy to sit around and wait.

If you're hitting his sanctum, I want the buff list.

If they go out without me, I would give Greta Mage Armor, extended Heroism, extended Heightened Awareness. I could give those to another person as well if needed.

You would have to count travel time off the duration on the heighten awareness and heroism.

I don't think I have any other 10 minute/level or better buffs to go.

Looks like I need to step in as GM:

Day 2:
Raise Dimitri, I'll assume Crummock will use restoration.

Any other plans on Day 2?
Like barracks or sanctum?

If attacking sanctum on Day 2,Mr Whiskers won't join.

is the sanctum where Rasputin is? We may as well skip to the third day, and then loot everywhere before we leave.

Yesh Rasputin is in the sanctum. You need to call it down, then march in again on the third day(if you want to go on the third day). I really DO want to have the complete buff list(Mr Whiskers?) and approach before I start getting to it.

Me be happy to move to Day 2 - but I'll wait for Mr Whiskers to write up his wishing of Dimitri back.

cool, we will wait for the wishing, I will pester Anastasia in the meantime.

Thinking of things to scribe/prepare, I know that Dimitri would *really* love it if Mr Whiskers could prepare a few Named Bullets on Day 3, as part of our buffs for the Rasputin fight.

I know that it would certainly help to take the wind out of Rasputin's sails!

Darkvision on Dimitri would also help.

Crummock will also spend his Day 2 casting Heal on another 11 of the insane soldiers, then crafting an Elixir of Spirit Sight, which he will feed to Geist the moment before we storm the inner sanctum.

I doubt that the Shadow Demons will be expecting a poucing, smiting, Ghost-Touched kitty cat ;-)

Yeah you definitely want Darkvision on Dimitri. Else there's a bad case of total concealment.

Mind you - named bullet can't confirm crit on incorps unless you have ghost touch property.

I could have given Dmitri darkvision the last fight if anyone had mentioned it. Mr. Whiskers had Alter Self and could have turned Dmitri into a half-orc or dwarf.

Since it may take more than a couple of minutes, I'll put darkvision on the scroll.

Sorry, I hadn't realized people were waiting for the wish description.

I mean hey - its not everyday you get to use limited wish(cost issues), right? So I thought I'd let you have the opportunity to fluff it up.

True enough. It is the first time he cast any 7th level spell.

Now to go through the spell list one more time, looking for things that will help.

I know that I'm going to be learning Greater Heroism so that at least some of us are guaranteed to not be affected by the first round of Fear effects. Unfortunately we know that Rasputin has Dispel Magic.

I also have to do the math on the scroll. It needs Darkvision and I would like to fit two Resist Energy Communal on there -- cleric spells tend to be fire or sound. Just a matter of what I can fit in 1000 gp of scroll.

Crummock has covered the fear part already - unless you want to double layer it. Spell immunity from fear will make the fear ineffective - right till its dispelled.

Do remember what one of Anastasia's 3rd level spells is....an 8th level oracle has quite some slots, if you're fine with the 10 less energy resistance.

@Mr Whiskers:

I will be covering everyone with Spell Immunity(Fear), so it should not, theoretically, be a problem... but double layering is never a bad thing.

EDIT: Ninja'ed by the GM!

@GM Mort:

So does that mean we can count on each having Acid/Electricity/Sonic covered, as well as Fire/Cold (by Crummock)?

Greater Heroism is also +4 to Einar's Disable Device rolls against the world engine. I am thinking we will want as great a bonus there as we can get.

Point taken on the Resist Energy Communal though. Can she cover each of us twice?