The Dying City: DM Norv's "Curse of the Crimson Throne"

Game Master The Norv

I deleted a post because I realized I may have misremembered some information and didn't want to barge forward on the wrong foot:

We need to look for Scream to find Vencarlo Orsini, right?

And there was also some Kalepopolis dude whose patch of clothes we found at Scream's house.

Yes to both, Callie.

Apologies for the delay; am fighting off an illness that’s left me wiped out. Will post again as soon as possible.

No worries, 11 days from election and I can feel the exhaustion setting in.

Strength to both of you.

Woof, yeah, I feel that, Matoska. Stay strong.

Feeling better now, though my next few days are kinda hectic; gonna try to climb back on the wagon.

Hope you two feel better soon.

Long, terrible story short, after over a year of limbo my work related hearing started today. So for the next month there will be days where I can't post and some days where I just don't have it in me. The good news is the end is finally in sight. Will get a post up tonight or tomorrow.

Hope it all goes well, Teo.

Best of luck to you (man it's been rough for folks lately!).

It's okay, Teo. Best of luck to you.

One more day

Yup. Hope everyone in the US has made a plan to vote! Fortunately my place of work is closed on election day, so it's easy for me...

I'm lucky, my polling place is across the street, so I'll just hit the polls before I go to work.

Usually for midterms the place is pretty dead. I'm curious with all the vote-plugging this year if it will be more busy.

Here's hoping! My state had more primary votes this year than the last midterm had in the general, all signs point to high turnout.

I voted back on 10/05 but will be giving poll rides tomorrow, then hitting the gym at about 7 for my own peace of mind, then going to a watch party at about 8:30. And then I will sleep, the deep and satisfied sleep of someone who knows they left it all on the field.

And then Matoska should hopefully be more lively and engaged :)

I haven't waited in line that long since the 2012 presidential election. Yay people participating in their government!!!

Hmmmmm:

+1 leather armor (small sized)---Sell?
+1 greataxe (small sized)---Sell?
amulet of natural armor +1---Just about anyone.
belt of giant strength +2---Matoska? Could help K, Callie, or Teo if he doesn't want it.
potion of barkskin +4 (x2!)---Callie and then either Matoska or K.
rod of wonder---Callie is very right about K ant Teo, ha. But can Matoska even operate it? If not, one of the ladies should have it.
+1 glamered chain shirt---Agreed, keep even if no one wants it.
mwk light crossbow with 10 bolts---Tressa, just in case?
mwk war razor---K or Teo.
cloak of resistance +2---Teo could trade in his +1
headband of alluring charisma +2---Agreed, Callie
+1 spiked gauntlet---Just SCREAMS Matoska, right?
mwk spiked gauntlet---Ditto
potion of CMW---Someone frontline-ish.
potion of invisibility---K seems the obvious choice, though maybe someone without good stealth? Or just party.
+1 leather armor (med. sized)---Sell?
4 doses of medium spider venom---party loot
mwk hand crossbow with 10 bolts---Or would Tressa prefer this?

The point of a rod is that anyone can use one. (Callie really shouldn't have it either, she's a little... unstable of late.)

I agree with much of what you've said, with a few comments/additions

-I'd say the amulet should go to whomever has the lowest AC, unless they already have an amulet of natural armor. Which is probably Lantressa or Teo.

- Indeed a lot of us could use the belt but I agree Matoska should have first dibs.

- I ganked the 10 bolts but Tressa can have them with the crossbow if she wants them

- I think only Korriban is proficient in the hand crossbow.

Wow, I think I NEVER knew that about rods. Neat! And I always forget hand crossbows aren't like other crossbows.

So, here are my thoughts on the loot.

+1 leather armor (small sized): I say sell this.
+1 greataxe (small sized): I would also say to sell this.
Amulet of natural armor +1: I agree with Callie. This should go to whoever has the lowest AC so that it can help fortify their defenses.
Belt of giant strength +2: This definitely should go to Matoska.
Potion of barkskin +4 (x2!): Again, I'm in agreement with Teodor. I would let Matoska take the potion if he wants it.
Rod of wonder: I'm fine with Matoska taking the rod.
+1 glamered chain shirt: I say we keep this just in case.
mwk light crossbow with 10 bolts: Tressa
mwk war razor: Would this weapon work with my Dex build?
Cloak of resistance +2: I'm good with Teodor taking this
Headband of alluring charisma +2: Callie should take this.
+1 spiked gauntlet & mwk spiked gauntlet: Matoska all the way.
Potion of CMW: I say that Matoska should take this.
Potion of invisibility: I feel like I should take it, considering I'm the stealthiest of us (and it could go well with my plans). But, if anyone else takes it, then I'm okay with it.
+1 leather armor (med. sized): Sell this. I feel like we have better armor on us.
4 doses of medium spider venom: I'm okay with this being party loot. But, who could use it? Can any of us put venom on weapons?
mwk hand crossbow with 10 bolts: Would I get more use out of this or with my thrown daggers?

I don't think any of us have the "poison use" feature that eliminates the chance for danger when poisoning weapons, but it's a fairly small chance and worth holding onto.

What about the second potion of barkskin to Lantressa? If she needs it, it would boost her existing natural armor bonus by +3.

Looks like Tressa has an amulet already, so Teodor is going to take the Cloak and the amulet. Anyone want his old cloak?

I would. But, my ultimate plan is to use the Blackjack outfit to become him and that already has a cloak. I don't know if I were to swap out some of the weaker equipment in the Blackjack outfit set with some of my own, would it be less effective to be Blackjack?

Yay strength! Plus Potion of Barkskin, potion of Cure Moderate, and the Rod of Wonder? I'm fine with that and nothing else is jumping out at me. Those gauntlets will make for some excellent roleplay for intimidation.

"Well I didn't want to have to do this, but..." *takes off cestus, puts on spiked gauntlets*

I have a cloak of resistance +1 already.

Just a heads-up gang, I'm going to be going to visit family tomorrow morning and will be out of town till Monday evening. Will try to update at least once in that time by phone, but please bear with me if I don't get something up till Tuesday morning. :)

Masterful post, Callie. Hell yes.

Perhaps this is out of turn, but I don't think Callie was saying we had to ask permission to do face work. This party is crazy heavy on social skills. But there's only one bard. Working together we're unstoppable. Apologies if this is out of line. This is an amazing group.

Well, I have been stepping on her toes lately and I didn’t want to continue doing that. So I thought that I’d ask first to avoid that. But I will make my roll.

By all means roll (and you have!). I was holding off on MY rolling to just gauge reaction on the roleplay itself before rolling, but it can't hurt.

(And both of you have better Diplomacy bonuses than Callie. Since I saw y'all already had a lot of that I had built her toward Perform Oratory and Intimidate. :)

And thank you. I figured her brain would be percolating on how to make this work. Will it work? I don't know.

A lot is happening on the main thread! It’s so exciting! I’ll get a post in later today.

Sorry for not posting a response. I’ll try to get a post in tomorrow.

No worries! Was about to post to check in. Not sure how much you guys want to micromanage the gangs; I’m ready to move on if you are.

A happy belated Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! Hope you don't mind skipping the choker fight, but I'm eager to keep us underway story-wise and it really wouldn't be much of a challenge with you guys knowing they're there (since chokers are, after all, ambush predators).

Lialda can put all of you up for the night if you'd like - I'm sort of guessing that's the easiest thing to do, but I don't remember if anyone else has hidey-holes in Old Korvosa. Probably best to rest for a night before you go investigate the disappearance of Vencarlo and Neolandus into the Arkonas' mouth. ;)

Also, you can all level up to level 9!

I think I'm done except for hp (forgot what we do for that). Skills up, feat went to proficiency in his scythe, "Myriad of Talents" for +4 on skills I don't have, +1 Ref, channel to 4d6, 4th level spells.

My leveling is complete too. My unarmed strikes went up by a damage die, and I took Pummeling Style as the bonus feat. Next level I'll take Pummeling Charge and see how I like it.

Mostly done with mine:
Lantressa Level Up

Level 9
HP +6
Bab +0
F +1
R +1
W +0

Skills
bluff +10=5+2+3 (+4 if lying) +1pt
diplomacy +11=5+7+0 +1pt
intimidate +10=+5+2+3 +1pt
knowledge (arcana) +6=1+2+3
knowledge (local) +5=1+4+0 +1pt
perform (sing) +16=5+8+3 +1pt
perform (dance) +10=+5+2+3
profession (Courtesan) +11=0+6+5

Feats: Spell Focus (evocation)

Spells
+0 0-lvl known:
+0 1-lvl per day
+0 1-lvl known:
+1 2nd per day
+1 2nd known: unnatural lust
+1 3rd per day
+1 3rd known: ???
+1 4th per day
+1 4th lvl known: acid pit, (bloodline spell: shout)

Class Abilities:
Perfect Voice

On question, for my 3rd level spell known would you allow me to take Nixie's Lure and re-flavor it succubi's lure?

I'll post my level up tomorrow

I'll work on my level up and get it in as soon as possible.

Thanks, gang! Seems like it all makes sense so far. Lantressa, I'm fine with taking that spell.

For hit points, just take the average of your hit die (ie. half rounded up).

Our next step is to visit the Arkonas' stronghold, right? That seems to be the last place Orsini was seen.

Level Up

Evangelist of Milani 4!

HP +4! Now at 56!
Bab +3! Now at +7! Does that get me multiple attacks (+7/+1)? I'll wait to level up on my sheet until I get an answer for this.
CMB is +8 (+9 to disarm)!
CMD is +22 (+23 vs disarm)!

7 skill points!
- +1 to Diplomacy!
- +1 to Bluff
- +1 to Perception
- +1 to Acrobatics
- +1 to Disguise
- +1 to Stealth
- +1 to Sense Motive

New Ability: Gift of Tongues!

Gift of Tongues At 4th level, the evangelist may select a new language as a gift from her chosen deity. She gains the ability to speak and write this new language f luently, so as to better communicate with those she meets in the course of her travels. At 8th level, the evangelist selects a second language to learn. The ability to comprehend these languages is an instantaneous divine gift, and spells and effects that dispel persistent effects can’t remove the evangelist’s gift of tongues. (Choosing Varisian)

Aligned Class (Free-hand fighter 4)!

Bonus Combat Feat! Choosing Combat Style Master!

Combat Style Master You can switch your style as a free action. At the start of combat, pick one of your styles. You start the combat in that style, even in the surprise round.

9th Level Feat! Choosing Improved Feint!

Improved Feint You can make a Bluff check to feint in combat as a move action.

I agree. We should be moving onto the Arkonas.

You get multiple attacks at BAB +6. At +7, your full attack is +7/+2.

Callie is leveled. She gets +1 to Fort saves, 1 more 1st and 3rd level spell cast per day, and 1 more 3rd level spell known (I took blink) and for her favored class I took 1 more 2nd level spell known (I took misdirection).

For her 9th level feat I took Following Step.

For her skills I boosted Acrobatics, Intimidate, Knowledge Arcana, Knowledge Nobility, Sleight of Hand, Spellcraft.

I also added her headband of alluring charisma as I hadn't gotten around to that yet. (Accidentally added an amulet of natural armor that I realized I didn't take, which will now be removed.)

Let me know if anything looks amiss.

Thanks, all! These all make sense. And Korriban, Callie is right--you get iterative attacks at +6, so your BAB is +7/+2.

Finally remembered I didn't finish leveling. In addition to the aforementioned gains:
+6 hp
4th Level Domain Spells: Phantasmal Killer or Lesser Planar Binding
4th Level Spells for the day: Hallucinogenic Smoke and Terrible Remorse.

Hallucinogenic Smoke and Terrible Remorse.

That sums up about three-five years of Callie's life.

Have Teodor and Callie talked about their addiction? I feel like it came up more for Teodor before you joined. We should figure out a way to do that, as I feel Callie and Teodor don't really know each other all that well.

No. She's only very briefly mentioned it (including just now).

Yeah, I think their having a chat at some point about that would be good.