Striding Into the Gates of Hell - a Wrath of the Righteous Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

Joneth's voice carries through the room with a mild echo but there is no change to the situation or returning message. From this range Joneth's ability to ken the workings is limited, but there is something nagging and worrisome about the chest and statue that sits ill with him.

Have a peek at Gregori's spoiler - moving forward is partially pending the reaction to that revelation.

"Next to the altar under all that garbage, there's something emanating evil." the Paladin says quietly.

Yes, well, Theodric says, drawing a scroll and reading its contents before continuing Cast Mage Armor from scroll.

I can help with that. He intones a protective spell, touching the companions (minus Gregori) in turn.

Communal Protection from Evil, one minute duration on everyone except the big guy.

I'm afraid my incantation is limited to four recipients at the moment. Don't worry, I'm sure Ragathiel will protect you well enough. So, if no one objects... the wizard smiles, and approaches the spot with the evil aura.

Theodric girds the essence of your souls with protective grace before stepping into the room. Neither his first, nor second step provoke reaction... but just as the tension begins to fade... his third step provokes a deep and sinister voice to sound - as though the goat's image upon the wall were speaking "Ahh... I hope you are among Iomedae’s slaves... I would hate to think of mere peasants wasting such a personal greeting from Lord Baphomet!"

As the last word dies, a grating sound can be heard and the statue of a marilith begins to move, twisting at it's midriff to bring it's toy swords down violently to impact the bottle that it stands behind. A foul smoke pours from the ruptured vessel to fill the basement... and an ominous scraping sound can be heard from the pile of evil refuse...

DC 14 Fortitude save from all, and if failed please roll a d6

Initiative Block (Round 1): ??, Eudocia, Gregori, Harrol, Joneth, Theodric

First to react to the unfolding of events is the beast concealed within the refuse. A creature that appears like a wide-mouthed child beset with fibrous and tuberous growths rises and sloughs scraping legged towards Theodric - drawing beside the mage.

It's in the center of the 20ft x 30ft room.
Knowledge Nature is the appropriate skill.

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
How far can we see through the smoke?

Knowledge Religion for nature of the smoke: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Can't roll nature

Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

why didn't I use guidance, saw that coming: 1d6 ⇒ 2

K.nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Free vision through the 'cloud' the vapors are near invisible

Gregori finds no religious connection to the vaporous emission.

Fort 1d20 ⇒ 17
Knowledge (nature) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Drawing her bow, Eudocia sets an arrow to its string and lets it fly at the disgusting creature, but the projectile only buries itself in the pile of refuse it crawled from.

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 damage 1d6 ⇒ 5

I'm assuming there's probably soft cover.

As Theodric casts his protective spell on the others and mentions Ragathiels protection Gregori smiles. "Yes, something like that." he replies.

At the mention of Baphoment and the advance of the vile creature, his eyes narrow, a divine anger rising with in him. Instantly his halo flares to life casting it's brilliance into the room. Reaching deep within he grabs hold of his own inner light, the fire and fury that drives his battle with evil and calls it forth. A warm golden glow begins to pulse from the Paladin, emanating from him, expanding each time he exhales, enveloping his companions in it's glow.

He stands, blade in hand, radiating righteous fury, his companions feel safer, more sure of themselves and their ability to defeat the evil before them.

Activate Halo (move action). Activate Holy Light (Standard action). This causes a nimbus of light to emanate from the warrior of the holy light in a 30-foot radius. All allies in this area (including the warrior of the holy light) receive a +1 morale bonus to AC and on attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws against fear as long as they remain in the area of light. This power lasts for 1 minute.

Sling (point blank, holy light): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 13 w/ soft cover
Damage (point blank, holy light): 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Following suit Harrol takes his position behind Gregori, reaching for his sling, for his sling, eyes narrowing as he lets a stone fly at the creature. "B-b... back to the pit, fiend!" he manages, but the little halflings meek voice is nearly drowned out by the echoing drone of the demon lord.

I had a Knowledge Nature 29 in my last post. Does that ID the creature? If so, I'd like to tell everyone what I know, but regardless I will take a total defense and back away 5 ft.

Theodric backs away from the creature, allowing the others to get a clear shot.

Ooh, right, shooting into melee, too. Effective -1 to hit. :P

Wasting no time as soon as the paladin's divine light bolsters him, Joneth quickly springs into action. Closing the distance between himself and the monstrous creature without a second thought, he draws his curved sword with a fluid motion, its blade, entirely black save for the dark silver embellishment running almost its entire length on both sides, seemingly drinking in the light around it. The magus' opening strike, a horizontal slash to the monster's chest, is delivered the moment he finds himself face to face with it.

Round 1, Initiative 10

Hit Points 35/35
Arcane Pool 4/4
AC 18/T 18/FF 11, CMD 21
Fort +7/Ref +5/Will +6; +1 vs. fear
Effects: Power of Faith (+1 on AC, attack and damage rolls, and saves vs. fear)

Move Action: Move to engage the creature, drawing the weapon as part of the move.
Standard Action: Attack the creature.

Melee attack (+1 cold iron katana): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 = 25
Damage (slashing): 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

Sorry Theodric - missed that.

Initiative Block (Round 2): ??, Eudocia, Gregori, Harrol, Joneth, Theodric

Eudocia reacts quickly to release an arrow, but her aim is made harder by Theodric's presence and she overcompensates to miss. Gregori calls upon his divine heritage to bathe the basement in Ragathiel's glory and light.

Harrol has slightly better luck than Eudocia, but his stone skips off the creature's fibrous hide to no effect. It is only when Joneth steps forward that his blade bites deep enough to leave a line of slow oozing sap upon the plant.

It recoils before the child like growth of vines opens it's mouth and a horrible piercing shriek is emitted...
DC 15 Will save or Nauseated for 1d4 rounds

A Will save vs. nausea? That's an odd little ability.

Will (Charmed Life) 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 3 = 10 1d4 ⇒ 2

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Harrol, undettered, reaches for his wand, clutching it above his head as a glowing longsword and sunburst materialise, the symbol of Iomedae. He levels the spiritual weapon at the plant creature and lets it fly.

Force Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Theodric claps his hands to his ears reflexively as the cacophonous sound assaults his senses.

That confirms it, he says aloud, shaking his head.

It's a Mandragora--a plant infused with demon blood. Fire will work, and magical darkness too. I'm afraid your light won't scare it, Gregori, and reason will not sway it.

Theodric backs away, drawing the wand from his pocket and sending two orbs of force at the demonic plant.

5ft move away, move action to draw wand, standard to shoot Magic Missile CL 3 at it.

Force Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10

Harrol, I believe spiritual weapon requires an attack roll.

Will save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Ugh..too bad Called only works for attack rolls

Yes it does! Reading comprehension fail. It lists the damage before it does the attack roll, and I tend to play more martial orientated clerics. It doesn't seem to add any other bonuses save my wisdom and BAB, so it's actually quite a low hit chance as well, but at least the force damage should penetrate DR.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

... well, maybe next round.

As the creature's shriek reaches and overwhelms him, Joneth sees the world move in front his eyes, his sense of balance affected as if in the grips of severe vertigo. And then comes the nausea, though thankfully it stays at that. Nevertheless, the sensation proves too much for him and although he remains upright with his sword still in his hand, his grip loosens just a little, but enough to make attacking nigh impossible.

Round 2, Initiative 10

Hit Points 35/35
Arcane Pool 4/4
AC 18/T 18/FF 11, CMD 21
Fort +7/Ref +5/Will +6; +1 vs. fear
Effects: Power of Faith (+1 on AC, attack and damage rolls, and saves vs. fear), Nauseated (can only take a single move action per round)

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Nauseated for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds

This means he is nauseated this round only, right?

1d4 ⇒ 2

Correct - this round counts as Round 1 of the effect

The plant creature's shriek cuts through your ears and mind and many are rendered unable to continue the fight with the creature while you fight instead with a choking rising bile.

It is only Harrol, whose summoned weapon of force is unable to make solid contact, and Theodric, whose conjured bolts of force slam into the mandragora blasting plant matter from it's form, that are able to continue the fight.

The shaggy child-like plant lunges and writhes, jagged maw seeking flesh and vine-like arms lashing at the one that has cut it...
Bite at Joneth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Slam at Joneth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Slam at Joneth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 and a DC 15 Fort save vs poison
...teeth slicing into the elf's form and bludgeoning vine-arm leaving a red welt.

Initiative Block (Round 3): Mandragora, Eudocia, Gregori, Harrol, Joneth, Theodric

Eudocia and Gregori are still out of the fight another round.

Fighting off both the nausea from before and a burning sensation following the mandragora's strikes, Joneth appears undeterred despite the freshly inflicted wounds. There is a brief gesture and a soft-spoken incantation and the dark silver markings on the sword's black blade glow briefly with a silvery blue light just as a mark identical to them appears on the creature's body. As if guided by it, the magus uses it as a target for a pair of slashes, one in quick succession of the other.

Round 3, Initiative 10

Hit Points 28/35
Arcane Pool 4/4
AC 18/T 18/FF 11, CMD 21
Fort +7/Ref +5/Will +6; +1 vs. fear
Effects: Power of Faith (+1 on AC, attack and damage rolls, and saves vs. fear)

Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Full-Round Action: Attack the creature using Spell Combat with the spell being arcane mark (via Spellstrike).

Concentration (Casting on the Defensive): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Spellstrike (+1 cold iron katana with arcane mark): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 10
Damage (slashing): 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Melee attack (+1 cold iron katana): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 16
Damage (slashing): 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Joneth is actually a human, by the way. He is just pretty like an elf. :-P

Seeing the devastating effect of the shrieking, Theodric sends another blast of force at the plant-demon.

Magic Missile wand: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9

Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Force Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Harrol casts a despaired glance at his comrades, but unable to help them, sets his jaw and lets another slingstone spinning toward the creature, as his blade of force manages to nick it from behind.

Propping himself up on his sword, Gregori empties the contents of his stomach, wiping his mouth with a snarl.

Joneth's lithe human hands guide his blade well, but his cuts are insufficient to mark the creature's hide. Harrol's weapon of spiritual force has better success and Theodric sends another pair of magical missiles into it.

Ragged and laboring the mandragora seems to be near the end of it's existence, but it struggles on. Still pressed by Joneth and it's dim mind seeing the nearer threat as the greater it flails maw and limb...
Bite at Joneth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Slam at Joneth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 and a DC 15 Fort save vs poison
Slam at Joneth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
...battering the already bloodied swordsman again.

Initiative Block (Round 4): Mandragora, Eudocia, Gregori, Harrol, Joneth, Theodric

Despite the wounds being inflicted on him, Joneth holds fast, fighting back whatever poison coats the mandragora's claws. Still, the strikes do take their toll as his concentration falters and his attempt to cast even a simple cantrip fails. Even so, he keeps on fighting, bringing his blade down on the creature's misshapen shoulder right next to what would pass for its neck.

Round 4, Initiative 10

Hit Points 21/35
Arcane Pool 4/4
AC 18/T 18/FF 11, CMD 21
Fort +7/Ref +5/Will +6; +1 vs. fear
Effects: Power of Faith (+1 on AC, attack and damage rolls, and saves vs. fear)

Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Full-Round Action: Attack the creature using Spell Combat with the spell being arcane mark (via Spellstrike).

Concentration (Casting on the Defensive): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Melee attack (+1 cold iron katana): 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 22
Damage (slashing): 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Delay

Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 Last Round!
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Mister Joneth! Hold on!" Harrol says, continuing his assault from afar.

The combination of a final slingstone and spiritual strike combined with Joneth's horizontal blade serve to end the misbegotten creature's life. Pitiful wails slowly ebb to silence as it collapses to quiescence.

Theodric - remember what the mist did to you ;)
Combat over.

Theodric - remember what the mist did to you ;)
Combat over.

Oh, I remember--I just wanted to end the more immediate threat first. Theodric has a few ideas...

Seeing the threat neutralized and many of the others preoccupied with the residual effects of the scream, Theodric draws his dagger and looks in the reflective surface of the blade, trying to study the aura on his eyes.

Detect Magic

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Then he hurries to the corpse of the demon-plant, crouching over it and asking the others while averting their gaze: Does anyone have an empty vial or two? The blood and poison are useful for scrying magic...

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Harrol presses his hands to Joneth's side, nervously stammering a short mantra to the Inheritor before taking a few steps back from the man with the black blade.

Harrol fumbles in his healers kit for a glass vial, head clouded by the stench of blood and vomit, but draws away from the sight of Theodric's red eyes. "... are, are you alright?"

To be clear there were no other doorways in the basement, right? Harrol will search the chest and see what this creature was guarding. Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Harrol fumbles in his healers kit for a glass vial, head clouded by the stench of blood and vomit, but draws away from the sight of Theodric's red eyes. "... are, are you alright?"

Yes, I'm...I'm fine. The mist seems to have affected my eyesight, though I'm not sure of any other effects. There's no need to worry--I warded us before we ventured into the room. The spell protects me from any influence another could exert over me.

Theodric busies himself with collecting the blood and poison from the mandragora. Then, without looking up from his work, he continues. Still, the magic appears to be demonic in nature. Perhaps it would be best if Gregori would look upon me with his holy sight. The mage's voice trails off at the end, betraying a hint of worry about his condition.

Nodding solemly, the Paladin strides over to Theodric, shifting his gaze to percieve the nature of things, he looks for signs of evil in his compatriot.

Detect Evil

Gregori detects no taint of foulness upon the mage.

Harrol moves over to the chest and flicks it open. Within he finds five iron holy symbols of Iomedae stacked under a note that reads, We don’t need these anymore, but figured if you survived our surprise, it would be just plain rude to leave behind an empty chest for your troubles!

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Harrol will reach into the chest and grasp one of the holy symbols. ... like a fly to honey.

As Harrol's fingers close around the symbol it feels tacky, as though there is a film of some kind upon it...

Fort save please DC 16 is the target

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Resisting the effects of whatever had daubed the holy symbol, Harrol now sees that all of them are similarly coated.

"Are you all right Harrol?"

Any more for any more? - or is it back to the Inn?

"F-... fine!" Harrol says, dropping the Holy Symbol at once, wincing as it clatters to the floor, and gathering it up again in a strip of sackcloth and trying to rub it clean, murmuring an apologetic prayer. He frowns at the defiled holy symbols and carefully gathers them all up. "Let's 'ope this means them that carried these are still alive." he says, with unwavering optimism. "Should... should we head back to the inn and see if we can find another lead?"

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

As Harrol abruptly drops the symbol, Joneth approaches, curious to take a better look at the contents of the chest. "May I?" The magus casts a quick spell and, sword still in hand, crouches down and examines the iron holy symbols, taking care not to touch them.

"There appears to be some residue on them, perhaps some sort of poison," he posits after a few moments of thought.

Casting detect magic.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

"In which case it means the ones that carried those were happy to potentially kill the next person to pick these up. Obviously they've switched sides in all this." Gregori says angrily.

There is no magic upon the symbols.

Just for clarity the holy symbols were put into a chest beneath a symbol of Baphomet. It's a reasonable conclusion that the daubing of the symbols was potentially done by the same person that was honoring Baphomet.

Bit of background on where the AP starts

Since the first days of the Worldwound, Kenabres has answered the call to action demanded by the coming of the fiends. We opened our gates to refugees despite the danger. We tracked down demons hiding in the guise of men and set them alight with righteous flame.

Still, the tide of fiends never ceases. They surge pitilessly toward our shining border, that churning throng of creatures clamoring for virtuous blood. Kenabres is the bulwark behind which we throw our weight. The wardstone is our shield and also our greatest weapon. As long as Kenabres stands, we will keep the demons trapped, and our crusaders shall ride forth and put an end to their foul existence.

Gazetteer of Districts

Old Kenabres: The original town of Kenabres perched on the edge of the cliff, looking down over the West Sellen. Many of those buildings now form the historic central district. The houses here are well constructed from heavy stone, with angled tile roofs and arched windows characteristic of architectural fashions popular hundreds of years ago. Houses and official administrative buildings—including the courthouse, city hall, and the garrison—make up Old Kenabres. The houses aren’t the largest in the city and not always home to the wealthiest citizens, but the oldest families, who can trace their lineage back hundreds of years, live in Old Kenabres.

Ring District: The second tier of the city, circling Old Kenabres, was also a part of the original town of Kenabres. More homes and administrative buildings, including the hall of records and the maintenance building for monitoring the water pumps, make up the Ring District. At the district’s eastern edge, a steep switchback road makes the transition between the higher-elevation Ring District and the lower-elevation districts of New Kenabres and the Gate District. The switchback is called Davon’s Ramp after the architect and philanthropist who designed and paid for the structure as the town grew to a city.

Heavy iron gates safeguard the top and bottom of the switchback. For security, these gates are locked an hour after sunset, and a guard is posted at each. Persons wishing to use the switchback must make their case to the guards and hope their business is deemed important enough. Some citizens have special, expensive passes that allow them to move back and forth without question, and some say that the Wallers have their own methods of moving beyond the Ring District after curfew.

New Kenabres: New Kenabres was built during the initial flood of refugees after the opening of the Worldwound. Buildings in this mostly residential district are stone, but the walls are thinner than in the older districts, and the houses are built in a more modern style, with flat roofs and square windows. New Kenabres also houses most of the city’s warehouses.

The eastern and southeastern sides of New Kenabres hold many of the largest manors in the city. During the construction of New Kenabres, many moneyed families chose to build new homes in the new district, as it offered just as much safety as the old city but without the claustrophobic density.

Gate District: A decade after New Kenabres rose, the Gate District followed. City officials realized that the new housing units wouldn’t be enough to support the city’s growth, and in response constructed the Gate District the largest district in Kenabres. The Gate District includes a mix of residential and commercial buildings, as well
as wealthy family homes. Temples to Abadar, Sarenrae, Shelyn, and Torag sit alongside smithies, stoneworks, and woodshops. The city’s two gates, Northgate and Southgate, lead into this district.

Truestone Quarry: Truestone Quarry lies approximately 10 miles to the east. Caravans arrive weekly to supply Southgate with stone for constructing additional buildings and reinforcing the city defenses. Guards are always in high demand to protect these caravans from coordinated demon attacks, and to ensure the deliveries keep stone flowing into the city.

Map of Kenabres
Picture of Kenabres

While I'm drafting up the first gameplay post - I thought I'd describe the start position informally.

Harrol, Nessa, Theodric and Aarol - you are all recently arrived to Kenabres, within the last week or two. You've seen some of the city, but haven't really sunk into it and seen beyond it's surface. The crusades accepted you, but you had not yet been assigned to a specific duty yet (you'll get that in the first gameplay post).

You've not seen combat with any demonic forces yet - though have heard some war stories around the tavernas and barracks from Low Templars and Paladins both.

Also, you've not personally met each other yet - that will happen in thread.

Gregori - arrived to Kenabres a little earlier, maybe a month or two. Has a greater knowledge of the city (I'll PM or spoiler in thread said details) and has ventured to the fringe of the Worldwound with a patrol on a couple of occasions. While no battle was met - you impressed enough to be trusted with a bit more responsibility... which will be laid out in the first gameplay post.

Eudocia - will be introduced to you in thread :)

And gameplay thread is now live!

I would have put a bit more up... but I'm typing one handed as I've a 15 moth old asleep on me... and its two AM :P

Heh. I just noticed Harrol and Aarol. Do they rhyme?

Rough statblock up for Docia in her profile. I still need to buy mundane gear.

Given that Twigs is looking for an Oirish brogue... it's more likely 'Arrol and Aarol :P

Take the weekend to get things squared away as far as gear and such - we'll have a bit of RP introduction before things get interesting.

Given that Twigs is looking for an Oirish brogue... it's more likely 'Arrol and Aarol :P

Ha! Yeah, I hadn't noticed that either. :P

I had a proper post typed up this afternoon and there was a bloody fire drill at the uni library and I had to abandon it. Going to work on another now.

I'm a little at a loss with what to fill Harrol's pack with. I'm thinking just gratuitous amounts of food and travelling gear, at this point. Short of prayer beads I can't think of anything else he's missing. I tend to try to inject as much personality as I can into the junk among a character's first level gear, but I think with a pilgrim less is more.

I had been thinking of the french city Arles when I made Aarol, but we could play Aarol as the phonetic spelling of the Oirish brogue 'Harrol' :) Anyone remember the Newhart show, 'this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl'.

Just wanted to say in case some of you didn't read my profile that my tropes are Jerkass Woobie and Insufferable Genius. Theodric can be a bit of an argumentative jerk at times. I have nothing against any of y'all--Theodric's opinions/snark don't reflect mine. ;-)

I was going to chime in the same, that I hoped you didn't think I, as a player, was taking offense. I had read your background, and I guess you are seeing that Nessa has a low opinion of those not as eager as her to lay into the enemy.

I'm a watching and will advance after you've had a bit of time for a meet and greet. Feel free to ask OOC questions or make rolls for information about Kenabres or other things that you might be interested in.

Jerkass Woobie was a trope for Aarol as well, and as well please don't ever take the banter as anything personal, it's just having fun :)

It's been a busy week for me. I've STARTED a whole lot of posts, but few of them have been

I'll try to pen a post on the train tommorow, but if I dont get a chance dont hold things up on my account :)

Oh hell yeah!

The AP does open with somewhat of a boom ;)

Made me thing of a Darkseid boom tube opening up

DAAAAAYUM. SurplusRaine is going to regret not applying to this one. Sweet-holy-paladin-jesus.

*munches popcorn* Nessa- "I didn't know there was going to be a show."

:P - at the moment you're unconscious, I'll narrate the waking up section later tonight - but feel free to offer your thoughts IC as the events unfolded.

Unconcious? D'oh! You ninja'd me. I was all ready to fight dretches in the streets, but I should have guessed that the Silver Dragon and Demon-Lord were a bit beyond our CR range. :P

My post is going to need some work.

Will get up a reaction post to the actual action a bit later in the day. Am about to have to take the kids to the dentist.

Good luck at the dentist :)

I am pleased to announce that the train has reached PC station, and you can now step off the railroad. Your path, fate and fortune are now solely in your hands :)

now that is an intro to an adventure!

VoV, would the prestige class of Chevalier be Ok for Aarol? It was introduced in AP #14, the second book of the Second Darkness AP, however that was in the 3.5 days and it's just a three level prestige class that wasn't added to the core book or the advanced player's guide.

Here is the Pathfinder Wiki link for it.

Here is the D20PFSRD link for it.

I'd have no problems with the Chevalier class - doesn't even look like it needs much (if any) updating.

That was a very cool scene. Now we just need to dig our way back to the surface, dodge some demons, and get one of those dragon scales so we can resurrect her. What could possibly go wrong with that plan? ;-)

I read the opening scene while listening to the "Arcade" battle theme from Man Of Steel. Perfect.

I typed my above post before I refreshed and saw the gameplay post. So there are dragon scales with us? Called it!

Of course, now that there's 6, my new theory is that we each take one and her residual power transfers to us making us mythic or something.

Gregori, you can't make untrained Knowledge checks above DC 10. That's stepping all over bard class features. ;P

Still, it makes sense that you, more than the rest of us, would recognize Riftwarden regalia, having been on active duty longer.

Yep, Joana's right. But in this case, Gregori probably would have recognized if not as a Riftwarden specficially, then at least as an 'important wizardy type'.

Sorry about that, good points.

Boy, a busy day at work and this is what I find waiting for me.....pretty intense.

I had to play three bits of catch up, but back in the present I believe unless some posts appeared as I type this ;-p

I was at Carlsbad Caverns a few weeks ago and am full to the brim with info about how poorly fantasy RPGs represent bats. For one, I was in the front row when they came out of the cavern at sunset to hunt; they were flying within a few feet of my head, and if I'd had my eyes closed, I wouldn't have even known they were there they were so completely silent. I blame Scooby Doo with its sqeaking, wing-flapping opening credit sequence. ;)

Apologies for no update... but was wiped out by a combination of a 4 AM wakeup followed by an all day event marshaling our kids while my wife manned a stall. Success achieved though as they broke a Malaysian Record :)

Tomorrow night fo shore.

what was the record?

Highest number of simultaneously breast feeding mothers... they ended up with over 500...

That's pretty cool. Looks like it got some decent press.

On a separate note, just looked over the party's stats and I find it both completely in sane and totally awesome that Nessa is actually slightly stronger than Gregori. LOL

Thanks for the link. Sounds like that was a very successful event, nearly doubled the old record of 300.

Indeed, they did quite well for themselves - got some interviews and event coverage on the local TV news channel as well. But was a long day... especially when you pack that many mums, dads, bubs and kids into a single ballroom.

reach, combat reflexes, and good initiative, Aarol is built for point, come on Harrol, bring the healing after he takes the beating!

So Gregori and Aarol up front, halflings in the middle for easy access, Theodric and Eudocia with their poor ACs in the back? And we trust the NPCs to have plot immunity?

In the past, I've had issues with the Knowledge-focused characters bringing up the rear in a dungeon and never even getting line of sight on the monsters to ID them until combat is over. Those were five-foot corridors, though.

With reach and combat reflexes, Aarol could keep a knowledge focus character protected somewhat. Or, his long spear is a simple weapon, so anyone could use it and lead the way, perhaps while Aarol protected the people at the back of the party?

I like the idea of every character getting to shine, so I'm glad to have Aarol take whatever role to help that happen.

No, go ahead. We'll be a lot better with Aarol's sneak attack and Nessa's greatsword closer to the front than Eudocia and Theodric's low ACs, not to mention Harrol's healing ... until we get ambushed by something stalking us from behind, anyway. ;)

At least it's not five-foot corridors. Five-foot corridors are murder on a party larger than 4 PCs; James Jacobs has even suggested that the DM widen all dungeon corridors to 10 feet if there's more than 4 PCs in the party or the people in the back never get to participate in the encounters. Takes casters and ranged fighters right out of the game.

Why don't you have Aarol look over the campsite in-thread? I believe he has the best Perception score.

I neglected to buy any camping gear with Harrol until Kenabres was reduced to a smoking ruin... so if any of it is halfling sized and servicable... :P

Eudocia didn't have the encumbrance to carry gear and didn't yet know anyone in the party well enough to have them carry stuff for her. She has water and a blanket but couldn't carry rations or a bedroll. We'd better hope there's something edible down here. :P

Nessa is fine in the back for now, as the wounded need obvious attention. But she is surprisingly quick, she has 30' movement when called upon.

Oh, she has Fleet of Foot? HeroLab doesn't display alternate racial traits, and I wish it would.

Aaarol had a medium tent in addition to bedroll and blanket, but I just could not justify bringing that to a festival :( It was meant to provide shelter for the halflings and a spell caster, now it's just a part of the mess left at the guardhouse.

Well, I couldn't justify lugging my spellbook around with me. I really hope a demon isn't using it as toilet paper right now

Oh. Oh god. That would be bad.

Dude, you don't have your spellbook? You've got three spells plus one from arcane bond to cast until we're out of here and back on the surface? That's like Ginger not taking her makeup and full wardrobe on the Minnow's three-hour tour.

Harrol the Pilgrim wrote:

I neglected to buy any camping gear with Harrol until Kenabres was reduced to a smoking ruin... so if any of it is halfling sized and servicable... :P

Eudocia didn't have the encumbrance to carry gear and didn't yet know anyone in the party well enough to have them carry stuff for her. She has water and a blanket but couldn't carry rations or a bedroll. We'd better hope there's something edible down here. :P

Nessa Glenbrook wrote:

Nessa is fine in the back for now, as the wounded need obvious attention. But she is surprisingly quick, she has 30' movement when called upon.

Oh, she has Fleet of Foot? HeroLab doesn't display alternate racial traits, and I wish it would.

I had to buy the Race Guide add-on for Hero Lab. I held off buying it until I found out I got in, but I assume now that I have it, it will get used. I am using three alternate traits and yet somehow I didn't use the alternate gnome traits when making a twisted Redcap-sired gnome, a companion to Twigs' Bleached very twisted gnome in Mark's RoW campaign.....hence the short duo references that were bandied about....it is an odd coincidence.

Nessa has a bedroll and pack in her "Fighter's Kit" that Herolab bundles for you when equipment shopping.

Dude, you don't have your spellbook? You've got three spells plus one from arcane bond to cast until we're out of here and back on the surface? That's like Ginger not taking her makeup and full wardrobe on the Minnow's three-hour tour.

Guess I should have forked up the dough for a traveling spellbook, huh? Oh well, live and learn. I have a crossbow, right? ;-)