It has been slow but steady - always more time than I would have expected. But I appreciate the quality the players put into their posts. Almost done with this book (my poor players are probably saying ‘you’ve been saying that since before Christmas’)
Apologies for the prolonged absence -- I've just had a delightful week without electricity following a terrible storm. Will catch up now....
No worries. We had some damage from storms as well…but not as bad as you had.
Also, due to the underwater combat possibility here I threw Octavio into the mix. As mentioned, DR and half damage are an ugly combination
Losing our cleric just before the aquatic section was particularly crippling. At 7th lvl, she can take Leadership and recruit a cleric cohort, but without a cleric, we can't take on the enemies to get the needed experience. And now we need Align Weapon. It's a Catch-22 situation. :(
Right. As this is the BBEG combat (not counting a pesky ghost upstairs), level 7 will be achieved by the conclusion of this book. But that may not help much here. Also why I added Octavio. He is no slouch in combat, but water and DR affects him as well.
At least it's a new day, so we have a full complement of spells.
Brb, shopping for a paladin. :P
I'm fine with either retreating and trying to get more appropriate spells/weapons, or engaging as we are now.
Lubella could buy a scroll of Align Weapon (200 gp?), and try to cast it using her +7 UMD (+9 with Heroism). But with my record of dice rolling, that could be a recipe for disaster: a roll of a 1 prevents a retry for 24 hours.
I think I'd have to make a DC 24 check: she doesn't have the wisdom to use a Cleric scroll, so I guess I'd need a scroll written by an Oracle? So I would need to roll a 15. Alternately, I could try a cleric scroll, needing a 14, plus 9 on a separate check to emulate the necessary wisdom.
Once again, bitten by the witch spell list -- especially the painful thing where I *do* get Water Walking (which would let us attack from the surface without penalty and not have to worry about getting pulled under -- assuming the water isn't so deep that the beast can go all the way below) -- but, for some reason, I don't get the communal version.
I can maybe hit it with a few lightning bolts, but it's pretty much just that or summoning (on the plus side, the celestial template means my summons are good and bypass the DR). [Sadly, Celestial Healing doesn't given the Good type, just an aura]
That said, Talvek, Lubella and Blue could all Alter Self into something aquatic, though, and with a piercing weapon, would be fighting without penalty (so no half-damage -- the DR is still a thing). (And, yes, I know Lubella's best with Scimitars, so that's less than ideal).
It likely also has DR/silver, so a regular piercing weapon probably won't help Lubella much.
Buying a scroll of Alter Self is probably a good idea for Lubella (although she's not exactly cash-rich); it would give her +1 to hit, damage and AC from the dexterity increase.
I thought your knowledge roll told us it was only DR/good.
Maybe we wait to see what the knowledge rolls tell us before going too far down the planning hole.
I was going to say that the Hellknight was our best resource here... but he smites Chaos, and this is a devil, so not helpful.
I think we know from earlier that devils have DR/Silver.
I don't think that's a universal devil trait.
Hopefully not, but Lubella adds dex to damage with her (masterwork) scimitar, so that's still the best weapon for her.
So much for planning.
I'm thinking Arcos may want to either summon something, or cast Mirror Image.
We will be driving cross-country tomorrow and out of town the rest of this coming week. I should have time to post in the evenings, but will be from hotel wifi, so could be spotty.
Lubella has one 2nd lvl spell left; waiting to see what might be useful. Swimming out on her own to fight the devil would be suicidal.
For Arcos' turn, keep mind that he was able to move at 1/4 speed with his move action last round (DC 10 swim check). I think he should be at the edge of the water column.
I think it's going to be better for Lubella to heal others, rather than attack doing half damage against DR/5.
IMHO, it's very important that everyone is taking actions, and not skipping their turn. This could very easily turn into a TPK; lone bosses are extremely dangerous: a few bad rolls can be devastating. If the devil rolls hot on its next series of attacks, it could be game over. :(
I will take bot suggestions for Arcos. :)
I suggest that he makes a knowledge check to try to figure out if the devil has electrical resistance to start. He should try to move towards the enemy (I think he should have moved 5ft closer last round). If he thinks it doesn't have electrical resistance, he should shoot it with Mystic Bolts (supernatural, ignores spell resistance), otherwise cast Magic Missile.
I think Talvek may need one of Sidius' remedies for the poison; I'm not liking Talvek's chances of making the 2 consecutive saves: he'll likely fall unconscious from strength damage in 3-4 rounds (2 with bad luck).
I was thinking the DC was only 18 but at 20 it is pretty rough.
Fortunately Talvek with crits and Octavio with power attack are at least breaking through the DR
Remedies are gonna be a big hit. :)
Very tough combat with the poison, DR and water.
Relevant rules for remedies:
As a standard action, the herb witch can administer a remedy to herself or a creature within reach which consumes the remedy. The herb witch attempts a Profession (herbalist) check against the save DC of any one disease or poison currently afflicting the consumer. If she is successful, the affliction is suppressed for 1 minute. If the disease or poison doesn't allow saving throws, the remedy is ineffective. An herb witch can also use a remedy to attempt to remove the blinded, deafened, fatigued, nauseated, sickened, and staggered conditions. This requires a Profession (herbalist) check with a DC equal to the spell or effect that caused the condition, or a DC 25 check if the condition was caused by an effect that doesn't allow a saving throw. If the herb witch succeeds, the condition is removed unless the condition is permanent. Only a single condition, disease, or poison can be removed with each application of a remedy, and a creature can only benefit from one herbal remedy each day, whether or not the herb witch succeeds at her skill check.
So, Sidius administers it to Talvek, it suppresses for 1 minute, and that's it. I do think the "only one remedy per day" thing is a little weird if it's to deal with different conditions, but I don't make the rules.
A couple point (since this will likely come up again)
1) I agree on the suppression of the remedy. If the poison (or effect) expires while being suppressed then it will stop being an issue (other than damage already received). The poison is stopped. However if the poison lasts longer than the time suppressed then the damage and saves will resume to be needed once the suppression stops.
2) administering a remedy requires the patient to drink it. So underwater this could be problematic. And how a fighter in combat drinks while fighting..who expends the move action? Fighter, witch or both? This I do not know without FAQ. I have seen GM make clerics roll touch attacks to cure an ally in combat…which is easier than holding a drink for them…but that was rare.
The rules state that it becomes inert if it leaves the witch's posession, and so the action is Sidius' (a standard) -- I rather assumed this made it a touch spell sort of thing -- in my mind it was more a poultice (to explain the action economy bit) -- though that doesn't help with the issue of the underwaterness of it all. :)
That said, while the "consumes" in the first line could be clearer, they call the person being remedied the consumer in the second, so that implies that it gets drunk - which... makes it all weird.
If consumes means drink (my assumption) since that would provoke etc like a potion. Applying a poultice is more of a touch…but seems would take longer(but is consistent with the not leaving possession part). Agreed, very weird…will have to figure out before next time. But #1 is agreed.
Perhaps make a habit of throwing wads of healing herbs at people.
Sidius: I got you covered! *Splat*
I'll be travelling to Portugal for the next couple of weeks, so my posting ability will be limited.
Ok we only really have the ghost left in the book. She is listed as one of the conditions of completion. After that you all (that survive …muhahaha) will be level 7 and head into the next book. Then we need to have a discussion on what we do next. I have another player who has requested to join book 3. So timing to level and transition and see if everyone is still interested and able to post regularly with all the activities in real life etc. My family will be traveling for two weeks in July.
Lubella is planning to take Leadership as her 7th lvl feat, with the intention of recruiting a Cleric of Sarenrae for RP reasons. This cohort is intended to remain in the background unless absolutely needed.
I'll be on holidays the last 2 weeks in July, but other than that, I'm still good to continue... I'm hoping that my limited spell list will stop being so terrible going forward.
Wanted to give one last chance to find the door.
DC30, with distance, heroism etc, she just made it exactly.
I needed to roll an 18: not easy!
Yep, I think Talvek just missed it by a few the first time through the hall.
Lubella could use either the mithril chain shirt (if it resizes) or the ring of protection. She'll be able to use the rebellion rank 8 boon to get a mithril chain shirt if necessary, so either is good for her. She can't make proper use of the dagger (dervish dance makes her much better with a scimitar), but the dagger seems great for Arcos (and he has mirror images to help him get in close).
You can see why I wanted to give you a last chance to find the secret door. Dc 30 is a bit harsh at this level...
Would certainly not be upset with the ring.
Ok, Talvek is in Portugal...for a bit longer. As the trap searcher/springer you may have to bot his actions...or we take a mini break. I don't like to bot characters when their actions out of combat could lead to unwanted consequences.
Any of the rest of you are welcome to take any additional actions. :)
I have internet now! And we actually moved to Portugal, just got my residence certificate today. :)
I am sorry- I thought traveling was a vacation but not realizing you actually moved there! Congratulations
Ok, that leaves just the halfling ghost. She has some useful information and flavor, otherwise, I'd be tempted to bypass. And she is listed as one of the few success criteria, so I'd like to stay true.
Surviving her...you'll be leveling to 7th...dividing the spoils etc. Then discussion on the next book, party makeup vs real world commitments, and a new PC waiting to join book 3 (if we have enough interest to continue).
I would definitely want to continue.
Me too.