Sorry for the radio silence. Hosted Xmas for the first time with the in-laws, and am now rushing out to do a weekend with my family. Likely wont be able to review the prophecy to make any informed input.
There seems to be a general consensus on asking about the Pale. Sounds great to me.
I'll post If I'm able, but am not sure if that's likely. Feel free to forward the game and bot Jak accordingly.
Sorry.
OK, kids, what is the exact question then?
>:) This is just like when you have to phrase a Wish and you know the DM is trying to screw you to the wall.
Ok, one more thing, the following people are missing:
Annika Wynn (45)
Jode Guthwite (40)
Trev Guthwite (19)
Hanna Guthwite (14)
Annika has the knitting needles, Hanna is the smallest shadow, so two of the three are Jode and Trev. The 5th one is either someone that was not in the Drear and was likewise stolen, or is perhaps the Pale that we're looking for.
Since we don't want to be too greedy with our question, maybe we should ask if the 5th shadow is a human, or a Drearian, or something like that?
I'll wait a bit for y'all to respond before I attack the remaining shadow marks.
Okay, catching up. I'll get any thoughts I have up today. Thanks for being patient, guys.
Aerik's breakdown of the prophecy is good. Better than I could.
And Marcus's guesses at the shadows are good ones. I couldn't find any better suggestions.
Asking after the Pale is a good idea, I think. Though I think assuming that it's a person could be problematic.
If we're wanting to ask a less plot-specific question, asking about the fifth shadow is good, though we might as well as if our characters can get more illuminating detais about it (or just ask who it is).
If you are going to ask about the fifth shadow, I would simply ask who it is. To ask simply about the person may not reveal enough and would be a waste of a question.
However, I still like the idea of asking about the pale. What do you guys think of asking the question like this:
"How do we snatch the black hand from the pale?"
Maybe it would reveal to us enough information about the pale and give us a start on where to go to do it.
If you are going to ask about the fifth shadow, I would simply ask who it is. To ask simply about the person may not reveal enough and would be a waste of a question.
However, I still like the idea of asking about the pale. What do you guys think of asking the question like this:
"How do we snatch the black hand from the pale?"
Maybe it would reveal to us enough information about the pale and give us a start on where to go to do it.
Seems reasonable enough a question, though at this point there's too many reasonable sounding ones.
I'm not sure asking about the fifth individual is a good bet. Mainly because it's a bet, we don't know how useful that information would be. Could be a key point, or just a dead end. Though in character it would be nice to know.
Alright, let's use Lyrica's question--how do we snatch the black hand from the pale?
Agreed.
"How do we snatch the black hand from the pale?"
So be it, young Jedi...
Let me form an answer and I'll drop it on you all.
QUESTION: "How do we snatch the black hand from the pale?"
ANSWER:
The straight (and less helpful) answer is enter the White Barrow (the Pale), find the evil creature with the long hands that fit the stone, and hack off one of them. I should warn you, the creature will likely resist this process. :)
But being as this was a Christmas gift - even from Bad Santa - I'll expand on that answer a bit.
Kudos to Aerik for being on the right trail and for analyzing the prophecies at the right level to begin ferreting out the task ahead of you. Every bit of prophecy I'll throw at you is a roadmap of sorts. If it will take you in a direction you don't know to go, it will provide clues as to where you should go or start. So...
North from the dark shroud - the Mourning Vale (Drear)
Come the vengeful, bound by hate. (Us)
Snatch the black hand from the Pale; (Who??????)
Anoint the tools that sever Fate. (Matches with the prophecy)
Taking the first two lines, dropping the prose, and replacing them with Aerik's correct interpretations:
North from the Mourning Vale come the vengeful.
Translation: North from Drear come the Heroes.
i.e. The prophecy is written from where-ever the Pale and Black Hand are located so Drear is North of that. If you were to start in Drear and head South... you might stumble on something. :) Having said that, since I've already given you the true name of the Pale (the White Barrow) and it's rough location, I might as well give you the revised DM's Map. You can access it here or through the Maps link on the Campaign Tab.
Now, a word of caution about this map. I'm sure you are seeing the slew of monuments and sites littering the country-side. You are at Angarak's Teeth and you will quite likely be visiting the White Barrow soon. Call that a DM hunch. :p
But you might be seeing some other titles that pique your interest. I mean, the Shrine of the Faceless God practically begs for a visit, right? This is a sandbox and you are free to explore but there are no training wheels. Some of these monuments will be nothing more than interesting ruins, some will be challenges, and others will be absolute killers. So gauge well the threats and warnings you get (assuming you research any of these places before going) and be prepared to run if you get in over your head.
META-LEVEL STUFF
If it isn't already clear, the 'hub' of the main adventure will center around Angarak's Teeth. Each 'tooth' broken will reveal more prophecies (tasks) that forward the main plot, lead you to freeing your trapped townsfolk (and possibly the mysterious 5th man), and lifting the blight of the Blood Moon. There isn't a time-limit on any of that. The trapped townies are quite safe in the stones. So you are free to go off script and come back to the main plotline when you wish. The only 'time pressure' is how motivated each of you feels to save the world based on the damage the Blood Moon is causing.
Hey guys I am slammed with work right now. Things should hopefully lighten up after the 10th. I'll try to post as frequently as I can.
Sorry for my absence. Super busy week but I'm back. :)
Good to have you back... and it seems 'busy' is par for the course across the board. Anyhow, feel free to jump in.
Here's my stab at the note. Stormraven said I may be able to get in one more little blurb or so given the size of the 'parchment' and the awkwardness of the 'pencil'. What am I forgetting to tell them?
Reached the Teeth. Dangerous. Probably source of black mist.
Found message in stone. Following lead to White Barrow.
If Drear threatened, three quick horn blasts. You or us.
All here healthy. Lyrica still annoying.
Jak
I am happy to annoy Jak, but I hope the rest of you don't find Lyrica too annoying. :-)
Just to let everyone know, tomorrow night I'll be attending a work holiday party, then Sunday I leave to Florida for a week. I'll try to make sure everything's as up to date as I can before the party tomorrow, but after that probably won't be able to post until at the hotel Sunday night. I should be able to post every night while in Florida, but if there's a delay it'd be work related. I come back next Friday if I completely disappear during this time for some reason.
Lol. Just for clarity, HW. Jak is being playfully antagonistic. I'm certainly not saying I'm annoyed by Lyrica as a player. :)
And does the lack of feedback mean there's general concensus on the content of the message?
I'm good with the message
And does the lack of feedback mean there's general concensus on the content of the message?
Actually, yes. Do we have a horn among us?
I certainly don't. Do we have another way of sending an emergency message to them?
I am in general agreement about the message, and I think the bit about Lyrica is hilarious. And HW, if you are playing a paladin, and yhat pally isnt at least a little annoying to her party members, you aren't playing the paladin right. Lol
Here's my thoughts about the horn. We shoul leave it that they horn blast 3x for emergency. None of us has a horn, and if we are in trouble by the time they would reach us we are dead anyhow, cause we are out in the open.
So we should say something like: sound 3 horn blasts if trouble. If you don't hear from us in x days (3? 4? 5? I dunno). Assume we are lost and don't come looking
Lol. Just for clarity, HW. Jak is being playfully antagonistic. I'm certainly not saying I'm annoyed by Lyrica as a player. :)
I'm glad to hear it! I'm having fun with the two and enjoy how this relationship unfolds!
And HW, if you are playing a paladin, and yhat pally isnt at least a little annoying to her party members, you aren't playing the paladin right. Lol
I am always glad to hear people who understand the paladin and have some appreciation for them.
I really like the idea of the warning with the three horn blasts.
Wel, here's my thinking on that line. It gives our party AND the town a pre-determined message that "Drear is in immediate danger". That message could come from the town or from us (if we can get our hands on a horn). For the time being – while we don't have a horn – we don't have a really quick and consistent way of getting a message to them (at least that i can think of, anyway).
I think a slightly more robust communication system is in order – with possibly a way of us telling them we're in immediate danger – but we're going to have to figure that out when we can get some resourcdes to actually bring it to life. Smoke signals? Fire signals?
And Aerik's comment about the likelihood that the DRear can mount any sort of rescue attempt for us in a timely manner is a slim chance... not to mention it stretches the town's already-scarce resources even thinner.
So my vote is to leave it in and keep our eyes open for a horn. IF nothing else, we can hopefully pick one up back in town when we head back through there. For the time being, we'll have to rely on Animal Messengers or whatever else we can figure out to deliver messages to them.
OKay, so here's teh note that we sent.
Reached the Teeth. Dangerous. Probably source of black mist.
Found message in stone. Following lead to White Barrow.
If Drear threatened, three quick horn blasts. You or us. Also watch for animal messengers.
All here healthy. Lyrica still annoying.
Jak
Stormraven, you want me to post it in the game thread so it's all official? Or will this post do?
Nah, this'll do. No sense doing a timewarp when characters are about to get their faces eaten off.
Agreed. And cool.
Is N8 open enough for Jak to step into? If so, would it apply penalties if he tried to attack with a whip into O.10?
Trying to understand my options.
N8 is a real borderline case but the idea is fun so, yeah, you can do it.
Cool. Good to know.
Maybe Jak will get to do his best Indiana impression. "Undead... why did it have to be undead?"
It's like the Well of Souls scene WITH a whip!
... and corpses that aren't quite dead yet.
:D
Moved from gameplay to minimize blue-text, non-combat-related posts.
More like he'll be eaten by zombies before admitting to Lyrica that she's ever right about anything to do with religion. :D
I can tell that we are going to have a lot of fun! :-)
Let's go Mar-cus, LET'S GO! *clap clap*
(I'm Inspiring Courage)
I'm inspired... to KILL you. :D
My next bard's totally gonna be a high school cheerleader.
And not the popular one... the one who's always the foundation of the pyramid.
... youknowwhatimean?
lol.. Yeah the girl who doesn't win "Most Popular" but instead walks away with "Most School Spirit".
yep. Unfortuantely, I'm the football-team-equivalent to that girl (minus the potential girth).
This is in no way a joke, either. During the annual sports awards at our high school (both junior and senior year, mind you), I walked away with the "Fighting Hawk Award".
"But, Ben," you might respond, "That doesnt' sound like a bad thing. Surely it's an important and distinguished honor."
Well, it's basically given to the player who wasn't good enough to really get any athletic awards, but showed up every day and had a good attitude.
... ayup...
Well, you're a hero to me. :)
Aww... shucks.
True story, I wasn't allowed to play football in high school because the school didn't have access to a helmut that fit my head...
True story, I never even got onto the football field.
I 'lettered' in... wait for it...
Badminton
Here's my thoughts on our current situation.
I say (until we decide to run, if it becomes necessary) we fall into formation, providing a 2-tank face agains the oncoming skeletons (Lyrica and Marcus in front). I'm hoping they're mindless, but even if they're not, the ooze might be able to be as much of a burden to them as it is to us (at least we can try to make it so – until we can kill it).
So if Aerik took a shot at the ooze (either an attack or trying to help Marcus, i really don't know how to deal with it at this point), then 5' steps backwards, then Lyrica can step backwards and either also attack the ooze or ready an attack for the oncoming skeletons.
Then, if teh ooze remains in play (and as long as it don't have some way of sharing squares with the skeletons, only one skeleton can get to us). So either the skeletons have to wait (which I find hard to believe if they're mindless – something we may or may not be able to assume at this point), or they have to cut through the ooze (again, this is as long as they don't have a space-sharing solution with the ooze).
Thoughts?
Also, is this level of tactical discussion ok for the discussion thread, SR? I don't want to be overstepping.
Also, keep in mind, Jak's out of spells. So no heals any more until we rest up.
Nope, I'm good with you guys doing this level of tactical discussion here. I hope that in the game thread you throw in bits of dialogue to give some authenticity to the decisions you reach here...
"Lyrica! Fall back so we can force the skeletons to get around the ooze."
In later levels of the game, this kind of communication will likely be necessary to prevent you guys from getting hammered. As Jak and Marcus can tell you all from experience, I can make somewhat challenging encounters... Or, if they feel like being evil, they can undersell my abilities and let you walk into the ass-stomping of your lives. :) I'll leave that to them.
it seems like marcus is too heavy for me to effectively move, unfortunately, not to mention both of my hands are full. :/
currently im holding my shield in one hand, and my magic-stone-loaded sling in the other.
my magic stone does 1d6+3 dmg (vs whatever DR the ooze has) against non-undead, and 2d6+4 against undead.
as much as i hate to leave him to his fate, im actually thinking my best move is to move up and fire at one of the skellies.
i have full hp right now and pretty decent AC. if marcus can survive the next attack, he can withdraw when he is unstunned and that should free up a shot for zeke to throw a bomb at the ooze. hopefully me and lyrica can hold off the skellies long enough for marcus to heal back up with one of those potions the witch gave us.
oh and SR, how deep is the water one square to the east of Lyrica? im trying to decide if it would be better to delay after her turn, so she can throw a magic stone and withdraw and then i can move up and fire.
i don't want to give one of the skellies soft cover, but i also don't want to move past her and be waist deep in water
My concern with your plan is that you're left exposed for a round against 3 - 4 opponents, and we don't have any healing resources. That's a number of die rolls that could go bad for you all at once.
i'm not saying don't do it; i'm just saying that mitigating their ability to make attacks seems smart to me. And we don't have allthat many ways of doing it currently.
oh and SR, how deep is the water one square to the east of Lyrica?
Call it 1.5' to 2' deep.