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I know that you have been interested in bloodline abilities in the past.
We also know that her ability to use [Light] sorcery comes from her mother. "The ioun torch can cast a single spell with the ‘light’ descriptor from the sorcerer’s spell list (as this ability comes from Ruza’s mother, Alezra Sharpwit)."
We also have examples of Essences and Curios adding to spell lists. (My wand, Truk's holy symbol, etc)
I think it would be possible to awaken the Solar bloodline within Ruza since if her mother's magic was light based that's the closest bloodline. An Evocation Essence might add the Solar Bloodline spells to the list she can cast and give those spells for her the [Light] descriptor.
A Fire Essence could imbue her with the Bloodline Arcana. With Life Essences you could give her Bloodline abilities of that bloodline. (Which she could then share with you.)
Now you might not be interested in such a development. (Fair enough!) But, I believe it would be mechanically and thematically possible.
Oooo, this is nifty. It keeps to the supporting aspect of the spellcasting, it works with a couple of other abilities she has (via Garidan or innately)--like adding the [fire] descriptor to any spells she casts, which the Bloodline Arcana could then trigger off of--and it does have a nice thematic element to it all.
FYI, 'Ruza's magic having the [light] descriptor? That's actually a consequence of her vessel being an ioun torch--that was discarded since it wasn't working properly any longer--once upon a time; the spellcasting comes from mom, the [light] element from the torch. I'm sure there's some suitably dense magi-babble explanation that could be cooked up and slapped on it :D, but that's the gist of it.
Still, it doesn't actually negate your heritage suggestion either. If Alezra maybe had something in her background that the rest of the tribe didn't approve of, it could have provided both an impetus for her eventually parting ways and the fascination with...
Alezara was a Nightblood? Yes, I imagine that if she had the Solar Bloodline that would be super awkward for her given their leaders are all a special type of vampire. :-p :-p
Prisca originally appeared further north and high above everyone. She then moved south. I've indicated her original and current location on the map.
Awesome! Thank you very much!
Alezara was a Nightblood? Yes, I imagine that if she had the Solar Bloodline that would be super awkward for her given their leaders are all a special type of vampire. :-p :-p
You know, it's been a good long while since that particular background element has come up, and I can't rightly recall which of the various tribes/clans in the First Lands Alezra hails from. Heck, I can't even remember if it's come up to begin with.
Niyut was kind enough to jump onto a chat with me so I'm caught up to where we are. I should no longer be having to go "What" 15 times when it's my turn to post.
Speaking of which, post. That is...a terrifying thing that Malz just did. Niyut and I have dubbed this trick "The Choir".
Wow! That's so cool!
It doesn't matter but Niyut's SR check would have slightly different math. Her caster lever is 10 for that affect due to traits and meta-magic. She also gets a +2 to SR rolls from her elven spirit.
I'm happy to roll for myself in the future, since I have reason to remember to specific bonuses. :-)
That was an insane "Chior"!
When Garidan was polymorphed and I thought Gruskorb, Truk & Niyut were sucked into the demi-plane, I was thinking that Malthazir may be a goner solo against Prisca. I was relieved when I saw that Niyut had moved and she was still there to help... apparently Malz didn't need help.
Niyut, please roll in the future if you know the monster has SR. Since you didn't, I went ahead and rolled. Probably would be good for the spell casters to add a SR Check line in their profile in case I need it in the future, which is more likely now that you are getting deep into the mid-game.
Life Essences
Gruskob: 1
Malthazir: 2
Niyut: 3
Truk: 4
Congrats to Niyut!
Gruskob: 1
Malthazir: 2
Truk: 3
Congrats to Truk!
Elemental Essences
1: Garidan
2: Gruskorb
3: Malthazir
4: Truk
Congrats to Garidan!
1: Gruskorb
2: Malthazir
3: Truk
Congrats to Gruskorb!
Etheral Essences
12-4: 8 (Everybody gets 1 except Niyut)
8-5: 3 (Everyone gets one)
1: Garidan
2: Gruskorb
3: Malthazir
4: Niyut
5: Truk
Congrats to Gruskorb!
1: Garidan
2: Malthazir
3: Niyut
4: Truk
Congrats to Truk!
1: Garidan
2: Malthazir
3: Niyut
Congrats to Niyut!
The next two Ethereal Essences will go to Garidan and Malthazir.
Essence Recap
Garidan: 1 Fire Essence, 2 Ethereal Essences
Gruskorb: 1 Water Essence, 3 Ethereal Essences
Malthazir: 2 Ethereal Essences
Niyut: 1 Life Essence, 2 Ethereal Essences
Truk: 1 Life Essence, 3 Ethereal Essences
@GM:
I know we talked about and you thought it was cool, but maybe still have reservations, but I would like to use this Life Essence to grant Leadership or Improved Familiar to awaken Oseja as a Dreamlands Cat Sorcerer.
Is that cool with you? Do you need me to bump those PMs? If it is cool, would you prefer that I calculate her using Leadership math or character level - 3?
If it's not cool with you, I can choose a different option. :-)
May I use an Ethereal Essence to make Stone Discus a Ranged Touch Attack spell, like I thought it was originally?
Something like . . .
Held Effect "Accursed Obsidian": Stone Discus functions as a Range Touch attack when triggered from this wand.
Do we know what the essences came from? I track that, because it's occasionally relevant, and I definitely want an ethereal from the hag. I also need to see if Calledrym is satisfied by how things turned out.
Those are all from Prisca. She was a witch and an elder of the Firebird. Also a traitor.
As far as I can tell, the Soul Bleed took all of her Essences with her back into the Dreaming. None of our people there know the Extract Essence cantrip.
This seems really bad for your side-quest goal of getting an essence from her.
However, the struggle is not yet done. Maybe, probably, the GM has something up his sleeve.
Hopefully, we will get a happier ending, one less immortal, and access to her Ethereal might. But, we aren't there yet.
Ah I didn't realize I wasn't up again yet, I managed to catch my post within the 1 hour mark and deleted it.
Hold up, all of those essences from just that one enemy?!? And a shiny magic staff too? Dang.
Alezara was a Nightblood? Yes, I imagine that if she had the Solar Bloodline that would be super awkward for her given their leaders are all a special type of vampire. :-p :-pYou know, it's been a good long while since that particular background element has come up, and I can't rightly recall which of the various tribes/clans in the First Lands Alezra hails from. Heck, I can't even remember if it's come up to begin with.
You have mentioned that she is an orc. If she is a full blood orc and born in the First Lands, then she would be of the Nightblood.
If she were born else where, she would be a different breed of orc entirely.
I think you have intimated that she is from this side of the mountains and she left, but it's really up to you.
Hold up, all of those essences from just that one enemy?!? And a shiny magic staff too? Dang.
Yep. That's what you get from a full caster who has been taking power from others.
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Yeah, she was indeed full orc, because 'Ruza was a half-orc. Well then, that's an interesting background tidbit resolved there. Of course, now I'm wondering if there's any of her relatives left among the Nightblood, and if any them maybe can recognize what that ioun torch actually is.
How old was she? And when did she leave?
How old was she? And when did she leave?
Congratulations, you've just asked two questions for which I have no answer whatsoever. I honestly never fleshed it out, even just in my head, to that level of detail.
I do know that, because of how orcs age, she would have been middle-aged at the time of the Shaping, with only a few years left before the physical rigors of adventuring became a serious concern.
Yeah, she was indeed full orc, because 'Ruza was a half-orc. Well then, that's an interesting background tidbit resolved there. Of course, now I'm wondering if there's any of her relatives left among the Nightblood, and if any them maybe can recognize what that ioun torch actually is.
I doubt that the ioun torch was made in the First Lands, since Garidan found it in the Bright Tower.
Honestly, who knows who made it? When you are a godling pretending to be an immortal, human wizard, you tend to collect things.
How old was she? And when did she leave?Congratulations, you've just asked two questions for which I have no answer whatsoever. I honestly never fleshed it out, even just in my head, to that level of detail.
And that's how you make up back story. :-p By asking questions and then coming up with answers.
I doubt that the ioun torch was made in the First Lands, since Garidan found it in the Bright Tower.
Honestly, who knows who made it? When you are a godling pretending to be an immortal, human wizard, you tend to collect things.
Wouldn't the Nightblood, with their blatant (and literal) ancestor worship be the likeliest to have some means of knowing when kin are around, even if said kin is just a bit corporeally- and respiration-challenged at the time? Maybe even especially under those conditions?
Orc
Middle Age: 20 years
Old: 30 years
Venerable: 40 years
Maximum: 40 + 1d20 years
Sorcerer is an intuitive class, so she would have hit level 1 between 13-16 years old.
How many years younger than you was Ruza?
Wouldn't the Nightblood, with their blatant (and literal) ancestor worship be the likeliest to have some means of knowing when kin are around, even if said kin is just a bit corporeally- and respiration-challenged at the time? Maybe even especially under those conditions?I doubt that the ioun torch was made in the First Lands, since Garidan found it in the Bright Tower.
Honestly, who knows who made it? When you are a godling pretending to be an immortal, human wizard, you tend to collect things.
Yes, kin definitely. Origins of random ioun stone housing the wayward spirit of one of their descendants? Probably a harder ask. Though, that creepy, female vampire seems to have some strong divination skills, so maybe she could tell you that too.
Hmmm, given that Garidan is 20 and his bio-mom died in birth and knew Alezara, that would be 20 years ago, which would place her at least at 33 likely around 40 given that she was already an establish adventurer when she moved to the valley.
That would very old for an orc, perhaps she discovered some method of slowing the effects of the aging process in all those ruins she explored?
That could account for her appearing around half her actual age?
The more I ponder this the more I think her living kin are likely either dead or among the never-dying. Grand nieces and nephews are probably still alive.
Alezara was a Nightblood? Yes, I imagine that if she had the Solar Bloodline that would be super awkward for her given their leaders are all a special type of vampire. :-p :-pYou know, it's been a good long while since that particular background element has come up, and I can't rightly recall which of the various tribes/clans in the First Lands Alezra hails from. Heck, I can't even remember if it's come up to begin with.You have mentioned that she is an orc. If she is a full blood orc and born in the First Lands, then she would be of the Nightblood.
If she were born else where, she would be a different breed of orc entirely.
I think you have intimated that she is from this side of the mountains and she left, but it's really up to you.
The orc reference was a complete mistake. She's fully human. I had the wrong image loaded on her page on the wiki and just forgot what clan she was coming from.
EDIT: Sorry chaos at my house this afternoon with the wife and kiddo. I thought you were talking about Prisca. She is human, but I inadvertantly marked her as orc. Alezra, Ruza's mother and Garidan's step-mother is a Nightblood.
Neat. I like the picture that you chose for Prisca on the wiki.
In that post we were talking about Garidan's adopted mother, who died during the Storm.
@GM:
I know we talked about and you thought it was cool, but maybe still have reservations, but I would like to use this Life Essence to grant Leadership or Improved Familiar to awaken Oseja as a Dreamlands Cat Sorcerer.
Is that cool with you? Do you need me to bump those PMs? If it is cool, would you prefer that I calculate her using Leadership math or character level - 3?
If it's not cool with you, I can choose a different option. :-)
May I use an Ethereal Essence to make Stone Discus a Ranged Touch Attack spell, like I thought it was originally?
Something like . . .
Held Effect "Accursed Obsidian": Stone Discus functions as a Range Touch attack when triggered from this wand.
I'll dig up the PM on the Dreamlands cat and reply.
As for stone discus, a ranged touch attack with physical damage is incredibly powerful, especially when they start bypassing DR at 5th level. I'd likely be willing to let you modify it with a Primal Essence and make the discus created out of that energy type. That could be a ranged touch attack, but it would be mitigated by DR and subject to SR. Anything other than that is too over powered for a 2nd level spell, I think. I mean, that is best of all worlds. Use your casting stat to hit the typically lowest AC with no save, no SR, and it avoids DR at higher caster levels. Is there any other spell that does that?
But it doesn't use my casting stat. Range attacks unless they specifically say so use Dexterity.
As is it is unlikely that Dex + Bab can hit the AC of anything we encounter.
Now if you think I could use my casting stat to aim, then we are talking whole different kettle of fish. Would you be more comfortable with that? I think that's worth an essence to me.
True... getting D&D5e and PF confused. Still, you're asking to gain a big advantage with ranged touch. For Prisca, it was the difference of 10 points of AC. Buffed her AC was 25, but Touch AC was 15. It's a 2nd level spell for 4d6 x2 (and x3 in a couple more levels) that I cannot defend against that you can currently cast 14 times a day.
Next level, your BAB is likely +5 plus the +3 from your Dex. You would need to roll a 7 or higher on your to hit roll to hit a 9th level arcan caster in Prisca. You'd only need an 11 to hit Garidan, a dex based martial.
I'm truly concerned that if we allow that, the kind of monsters I'll need to concoct to make that spell only moderately effective, will be absolute beasts. You guys already surprised me how easy the last two fights were. Your power is pretty high for your level at this time. I'm already conceiving of how to challenge you, and it isn't pretty. ;p
At eighth level my bab is +6.
But you can convinced me that ranged touch may be too strong for this spell but bab+dex will never hit someone like the Soul Bleed (and I took the spell specifically to help fight her) (I would have needed an 18 to hit her and a 16 to hit Prisca.) That doesn't feel worth it to me. (It's especially galling in character since the Soul Bleed is immune to the type of magic she is good at.)
Would you be willing to let me switch these essences to a different spell? I truly misread the spell because I thought it was range touch and therefore possible for me to use on her. I have an actual range touch spell that I could change it to.
Or would you be willing to let me spend an essence to use Cha on my spell attack rolls for this spell?
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Orc
Middle Age: 20 years
Old: 30 years
Venerable: 40 years
Maximum: 40 + 1d20 yearsSorcerer is an intuitive class, so she would have hit level 1 between 13-16 years old.
How many years younger than you was Ruza?
'Ruza was at least 15, having just finished up her own training (we'll handwave her starting age to be the lowest possible for a half-orc fighter) and considered "ready" for adventuring by Armant and Alezra.
Hmmm, given that Garidan is 20 and his bio-mom died in birth and knew Alezara, that would be 20 years ago, which would place her at least at 33 likely around 40 given that she was already an establish adventurer when she moved to the valley.
That would very old for an orc, perhaps she discovered some method of slowing the effects of the aging process in all those ruins she explored?
That could account for her appearing around half her actual age?
EDIT: Sorry chaos at my house this afternoon with the wife and kiddo. I thought you were talking about Prisca. She is human, but I inadvertantly marked her as orc. Alezra, Ruza's mother and Garidan's step-mother is a Nightblood.
Or some lifespan shenanigans courtesy of being Nightblood--and potentially something else besides--as Valjoen has confirmed she was. Possibly a little bit of all of those things.
Lol, this rather interesting, a background element put in while overlooking just one or two details, and it turns into something with a lot of potential.
Yes, kin definitely. Origins of random ioun stone housing the wayward spirit of one of their descendants? Probably a harder ask. Though, that creepy, female vampire seems to have some strong divination skills, so maybe she could tell you that too.Wouldn't the Nightblood, with their blatant (and literal) ancestor worship be the likeliest to have some means of knowing when kin are around, even if said kin is just a bit corporeally- and respiration-challenged at the time? Maybe even especially under those conditions?I doubt that the ioun torch was made in the First Lands, since Garidan found it in the Bright Tower.
Honestly, who knows who made it? When you are a godling pretending to be an immortal, human wizard, you tend to collect things.
I don't know about you, but if I was leading the Nightblood and had a creepy diviner handy, I'd put said diviner to work sussing out knowledge and secrets regarding the little pack of scrappy adventurers I was going to be using for my work. If she's capable, and has some good sources, she could probably learn all about Garidan's little possessed ioun torch, and just who and what its possessor is.
And if Alezra did part from the Nightblood on account of some embarrassing--or, as you put it to my considerable amusement, super awkward--heritage issues, then having her daughter pop up (in any form) would probably merit a little bit of interest, right?
Upon further consideration of Alezra's Nightblood roots, I think it would serve to explain why she didn't share much regarding her origins with Garidan and Goruza as they were growing up. I can't imagine that Nightblood have any sort of positive reputation among those who know what the name really signifies, and explaining to a pair of intellectually precocious children that mommy's people essentially worship vampires probably wouldn't go over too well either.
And while they were undoubtedly aware of what an orc's natural lifespan is, why would they question mom not aging (or, at least, appearing to age) as an orc would? I know that I've (in real life) often looked at or been around something for a long while before suddenly noticing one detail that was never hidden, but also never really registered on my mind. I don't doubt we've all done that, and it's incredibly easy to do.
It kinda depends on her perspective on her roots. It's hard to stress this enough "orthodox" NightBlood do not believe that their "living ancestors" are undead. Rather they are immortals and that blood is the font of all power. The living part is very important. Extremely important because they believe that Vash of the Blood is a vampire and he is a bad dude and worthy of everyone's disdain.
Now everybody else thinks that the living ancestors are undead. The Firebird believe that their southern neighbors are confused hypocrites.
OOG, I don't know which view is correct. I suspect "everybody" else is right because when I did a knowledge check our amazing GM basically said -- I'm paraphrasing here -- "typical vampire" stuff.
Now if the Nightblood are correct, then there is less to worry about teaching your kids to worship undead abominations. I don't know maybe the GM has created positive energy beings that subsist on blood and whose biological functions still work. Maybe they actually are living spirits.
@GM: Since Mal is out of pocket for the rest of the week, can we have him roll a spell craft check to determine whether or not he can use Dispel Magic to break the effect on Garidan (if it's not permanent) or if requires something like Break Enchantment?
If Dispel Magic Works as a solution:
If Dispel Magic is not a viable solution based on what he knows in spell craft, he will fly towards where my mother and possibly the Nightblood Wiavch are bound high in the trees.
Brief check in. I approve of any use of Malz for magical research or questions that are non-evil in nature (and maybe some evil summoning too).
Also a dot to remind both myself and the GM that Malz is looking into constructs.
In case, you are gone during the next round what are you summoning?
I had planned for you to help out with getting the captives free. While neither of us is strong enough to carry them, you can featherfall them and cut them loose from the canopy.
3rd level summon for a dire bat. Using their blindsight to help find Garidan and also to sense incoming threats.
At eighth level my bab is +6.
But you can convinced me that ranged touch may be too strong for this spell but bab+dex will never hit someone like the Soul Bleed (and I took the spell specifically to help fight her) (I would have needed an 18 to hit her and a 16 to hit Prisca.) That doesn't feel worth it to me. (It's especially galling in character since the Soul Bleed is immune to the type of magic she is good at.)
Would you be willing to let me switch these essences to a different spell? I truly misread the spell because I thought it was range touch and therefore possible for me to use on her. I have an actual range touch spell that I could change it to.
Or would you be willing to let me spend an essence to use Cha on my spell attack rolls for this spell?
How about letting it use touch attack but Spell Resistance is applicable. This would put it on par with scorching ray. But elemental resistances wont affect.
How about letting it use touch attack but Spell Resistance is applicable. This would put it on par with scorching ray. But elemental resistances wont affect.At eighth level my bab is +6.
But you can convinced me that ranged touch may be too strong for this spell but bab+dex will never hit someone like the Soul Bleed (and I took the spell specifically to help fight her) (I would have needed an 18 to hit her and a 16 to hit Prisca.) That doesn't feel worth it to me. (It's especially galling in character since the Soul Bleed is immune to the type of magic she is good at.)
Would you be willing to let me switch these essences to a different spell? I truly misread the spell because I thought it was range touch and therefore possible for me to use on her. I have an actual range touch spell that I could change it to.
Or would you be willing to let me spend an essence to use Cha on my spell attack rolls for this spell?
While I might have magical theory quibbles about that solution, as a practical solution it's one I can endorse.
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@Niyut - Sounds good.
_________
@All - Truk & I are working out a few ideas via PM. They should be resolved before we move forward. I have a good idea of what actions everyone wants to do next. Is everyone agreeable to let me do a cinematic scene to wrap everything up as the next post?
In that scene, I will have:
1. Niyut collect the essences from Prisca and take possession of Prisca's staff;
2. Garidan's bunny situation resolved;
3. Raektov rejoin the group;
4. Asulad & Yazgah rescued from the trees;
5. Truk'tosh & Gruskorb banishment to the Dreaming resolved; and
6. A few other surprises.
Additionally, I will summarize some of the party's options to move forward in the campaign. Of course, if you all agree, you can take off in any wild direction you want.
Lastly, let's discuss Gruskorb. While every character has a 'bound soul' arc, none of those arc's were part of the original plot to gather the Hazards for Bærwynnd. However, Gruskorb does carry the Sapling of the Ancient Chestnut Tree which may prove useful in the future.
So, the question is: Do we want to recruit someone to take over Gruskorb? Or recruit another player to create a fifth character that takes over the role of Gruskorb but not the character? Or do we want to continue as a foursome with the sapling recovered from the Dreaming?
Or does anyone have another option?
With all that said, welcome to 10th level... finally!
A cinematic wrap of this fight is just dandy by me.
I vote against having a new player step in to take over Gruskorb. Aside from not having the same level of investment in the character--and obviously no idea of how the character was to be developed--it'd be entirely unfair to stick them with a pre-made character that's already been developed to such an extent without their input.
I am, however, willing to invite a new player in with the idea that they take up, via a character of their choosing, the Sapling plotline.
Part of that reason is that we all have our own assortment of dangling and potential character plots already, and adding the tree to those would be a bit much. And the other part of the reason is that we've established that 5 character--plus more than occasional aid from an NPC/minion--is just about right for the threat level we're facing. If Gruskorb hadn't been hanging in that tree like a friggen monkey and snapping away with the whip, I'm pretty sure the hag portion of the fight would have been a lot less in our favor.
All that being said, I certainly don't mind Niyut just continuing to NPC Gruskorb if up to the task of managing two characters like that.
Also, level 10, huzzah! I hope Calledrym was paying attention and actually accepts this result as fulfilling his mandate regarding Li'luraant. Because I don't think we're getting a second shot at that otherwise.
Finally, with regards to Garidan's development, Niyut offered some interesting backstory ideas leading into essence usage, and I'm wondering if you'd be willing to consider them.
To summarize the ideas:
Alezra Sharpwit's motivation from parting with the Nightblood and going ruin diving was because she had a Solar bloodline (which, as Niyut pointed out, wouldn't exactly be cool among the Nightblood).
That Solar bloodline, via essences fed into the ioun torch, awakens somewhat in 'Ruza, at least enough so that she can use it as a bloodline and share it with Garidan.
@Niyut - Sounds good.
_________
@All - Truk & I are working out a few ideas via PM. They should be resolved before we move forward. I have a good idea of what actions everyone wants to do next. Is everyone agreeable to let me do a cinematic scene to wrap everything up as the next post?
In that scene, I will have:
1. Niyut collect the essences from Prisca and take possession of Prisca's staff;
2. Garidan's bunny situation resolved;
3. Raektov rejoin the group;
4. Asulad & Yazgah rescued from the trees;
5. Truk'tosh & Gruskorb banishment to the Dreaming resolved; and
6. A few other surprises.Additionally, I will summarize some of the party's options to move forward in the campaign. Of course, if you all agree, you can take off in any wild direction you want.
Lastly, let's discuss Gruskorb. While every character has a 'bound soul' arc, none of those arc's were part of the original plot to gather the Hazards for Bærwynnd. However, Gruskorb does carry the Sapling of the Ancient Chestnut Tree which may prove useful in the future.
So, the question is: Do we want to recruit someone to take over Gruskorb? Or recruit another player to create a fifth character that takes over the role of Gruskorb but not the character? Or do we want to continue as a foursome with the sapling recovered from the Dreaming?
Or does anyone have another option?
With all that said, welcome to 10th level... finally!
May I add a # to that wrap up list?
7. I want to grab the magic items on the two orcs the one that turned into a bird at the end of the last battle (the male orc) and the female rogue.
As for the next steps, there are several loose ends in the First Lands that I wanted to finish before continuing on with the Hazard plot.
1. Prevent the Dreaming from collapsing. The elven matriarch asked us to secure and fix the "Daguják, the Making Stones" in order to save the Dreaming. It is unclear to me whether these are different standing stones than "Eh’semghédôm," the Ruination, that we accidentally exploded. Verthag referred to them as such here. Are these stones the same stones? If they are, I have a plan to fix them that I shared with them last year.
2. Fix the binding that secured Ygrna, the Bone Mother, like my grandmother asked me to which she called me back to the First Lands.
3. Break down the relic bows and distribute their essences among the party now that I know how to do that.
Some of these things just require down time activity and role-playing, but I wanted you to know about them.
After these tasks are done, and we start back back with the Hazards, Rhykal asked us to go grab the Hazard of Evocation or Abjuration next. I am open to either, what are your guys' thoughts?
As for Gruskorb, I'm happy enough to keep playing him if you guys think I'm doing a good job. I don't want the tree plot thread going defunct. I would be more open to recruiting a new character to fill his slot when and if the GM's schedule slows down and we can pick up daily posting again. I have so much sympathy for our GM's position what with his responsibilities at the bank, his own legal practice, and helping his wife recover. All very important. All more important than the game (though I do hope that we can return to how the game was a couple of years ago.) However, I think it would be hugely unfair to ask a new player to get excited about the campaign build a complex character and then for us only to progress the story once every 1-2 weeks.
Can we get a picture for Asulad on the wiki and remove the deceased notation? She is around 53-54 years old.
+1 Oracle Level
+1 Fort, +1 Ref, +8 HP
New Spells: Dispel Magic, Night Blindness, Sand Whirlwind (Favored Class Benefit), Restoration
+1 Skill: Bluff, Craft ((Engraving/Carving, Weaving) Knowledge (Arcana, Planes, Religion), Perception, Spell Craft, and Stealth.
+2 Skill Ranks: Sense Motive
Also, level 10, huzzah! I hope Calledrym was paying attention and actually accepts this result as fulfilling his mandate regarding Li'luraant. Because I don't think we're getting a second shot at that otherwise.
I would remind you that you should probably offer him pray/praise/whatever when you are less of a bunny. Gods seem to like that kind of attention.
I would remind you that you should probably offer him pray/praise/whatever when you are less of a bunny. Gods seem to like that kind of attention.
Also, level 10, huzzah! I hope Calledrym was paying attention and actually accepts this result as fulfilling his mandate regarding Li'luraant. Because I don't think we're getting a second shot at that otherwise.
Well, praying to a deity known as the "Eagle" would be just a bit pushing things while a rabbit, I suppose.
Gruskorb:
So, I'm hearing that:
1. Adding someone to play Gruskorb is out.
2. Adding someone to play a new character should be delayed given my RL situation. I get that.
3. Garidan thinks we need a fifth character and Niyut is willing to play Gruskorb.
I can adjust the encounters to deal with 4 PC's very easily. I think having Niyut run him for now is fine. However, once the story arc of the sapling is complete, I'd say we retire him.
Finally, with regards to Garidan's development, Niyut offered some interesting backstory ideas leading into essence usage, and I'm wondering if you'd be willing to consider them.
To summarize the ideas:
Alezra Sharpwit's motivation from parting with the Nightblood and going ruin diving was because she had a Solar bloodline (which, as Niyut pointed out, wouldn't exactly be cool among the Nightblood).
That Solar bloodline, via essences fed into the ioun torch, awakens somewhat in 'Ruza, at least enough so that she can use it as a bloodline and share it with Garidan.
I like the idea and I'm up for it. Adding a bloodline is pretty powerful. Here is an idea: the Fire Essence grants her Solar Caster ability which is the Bloodline Arcana and adds the bonus spells to her casting ability. Then, an Ethereal Essence gets her the 1st level bloodline power. 2 additional EE's gets her the 3rd level bloodline power. Etc. The Bloodline powers can be shared with Garidan as long as she is within reach of him.
7. I want to grab the magic items on the two orcs the one that turned into a bird at the end of the last battle (the male orc) and the female rogue.
You can get the magic item from the rogue, but you never saw the other orc that turned into a bird. The cloaked figure that was by the fire and killed early in the battle was an unseen servant wearing Prisca's cloak used to draw you into their "trap". Li'luraant, Prisca and the Rogue were flying high in the trees using an illusion cast by Prisca to make the "clear" night sky. I alluded to it by having the stars shining but you kept hearing thunder. Also, the archers were part of the illusion.
1. Prevent the Dreaming from collapsing. The elven matriarch asked us to secure and fix the "Daguják, the Making Stones" in order to save the Dreaming. It is unclear to me whether these are different standing stones than "Eh’semghédôm," the Ruination, that we accidentally exploded. Verthag referred to them as such here. Are these stones the same stones? If they are, I have a plan to fix them that I shared with them last year.
2. Fix the binding that secured Ygrna, the Bone Mother, like my grandmother asked me to which she called me back to the First Lands.
3. Break down the relic bows and distribute their essences among the party now that I know how to do that.
1. Yep, I'll explain that.
2. You did that. I'll try to cover that in some text.
3. I'll let you RP that once we clear up the other things. At that point, we can discuss next steps.
Gruskorb:
I can adjust the encounters to deal with 4 PC's very easily. I think having Niyut run him for now is fine. However, once the story arc of the sapling is complete, I'd say we retire him.
Sounds good to me!
I like the idea and I'm up for it. Adding a bloodline is pretty powerful. Here is an idea: the Fire Essence grants her Solar Caster ability which is the Bloodline Arcana and adds the bonus spells to her casting ability. Then, an Ethereal Essence gets her the 1st level bloodline power. 2 additional EE's gets her the 3rd level bloodline power. Etc. The Bloodline powers can be shared with Garidan as long as she is within reach of him.Finally, with regards to Garidan's development, Niyut offered some interesting backstory ideas leading into essence usage, and I'm wondering if you'd be willing to consider them.
To summarize the ideas:
Alezra Sharpwit's motivation from parting with the Nightblood and going ruin diving was because she had a Solar bloodline (which, as Niyut pointed out, wouldn't exactly be cool among the Nightblood).
That Solar bloodline, via essences fed into the ioun torch, awakens somewhat in 'Ruza, at least enough so that she can use it as a bloodline and share it with Garidan.
That's nicer than the cost I sketched out for Garidan! You are in luck!
You can get the magic item from the rogue, but you never saw the other orc that turned into a bird. The cloaked figure that was by the fire and killed early in the battle was an unseen servant wearing Prisca's cloak used to draw you into their "trap". Li'luraant, Prisca and the Rogue were flying high in the trees using an illusion cast by Prisca to make the...
About the illusions. When Niyut was scouting before the battle she was using Detect Magic to try to spot illusions. Obviously, that didn't work for her. Can you tell me how this was accomplished so that Niyut can borrow this tactic?
Niyut is on he look out for ways that illusions can still work in the face of basic divination. Please, teach me your ways.
Edited: I've also sent you some PMs about some ideas that I had which were on the backburner that I would like preserved if possible.
Detect magic only has a range of 60 feet. The illusion was well above that up in the trees. So when Niyut was searching the area using detect magic she never was within range of the illusion. When standing on or near the ground and looking up, you would see real trees for the first 75 feet or so and then the illusion starts. Similar to movie blue screening. The set directly around the actors might be real but everything in the distance is just a blue screen, or an illusion.
I made several references to oddities about the sky and the canopy of the trees. If anybody went up there and was searching with detect magic, I totally missed it. This battle has been months in the making so I may have forgotten or missed things. No real devious tricks going on.
Detect magic only has a range of 60 feet. The illusion was well above that up in the trees. So when Niyut was searching the area using detect magic she never was within range of the illusion. When standing on or near the ground and looking up, you would see real trees for the first 75 feet or so and then the illusion starts. Similar to movie blue screening. The set directly around the actors might be real but everything in the distance is just a blue screen, or an illusion.
I made several references to oddities about the sky and the canopy of the trees. If anybody went up there and was searching with detect magic, I totally missed it. This battle has been months in the making so I may have forgotten or missed things. No real devious tricks going on.
Wasn't the witch summoning a familiar next to the fire also an illusion? Or did Garidan shove some harmless old lady into the fire?