The Emerald Spire

Game Master Stormstrider

I'm in the south bay and we just had snow in the Santa Cruz mountains, which NEVER happens!

Thankfully we've had 3 days of getting up to 40 F!!! almost feels like Spring! :-D

Well, here downunder we are expecting a couple of days around 38 C, or 100F.

Once again my apologies folks. I had hoped to get up a post meeting the 'deity' this morning, but RL had other plans for me. And the info is too detailed for me to try to play it by memory from work, so it will have to wait until after I get home, whether it be 2 in the morning before I get some sleep, or 9 - 10ish of Saturday morning after I get some sleep. I will do my best to get it up ASAP.

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Windchills of - 11 F when I got off work last night and had to do some grocery shopping - nearly froze me. My gloves are too thick too handle car keys, so no glove on my right hand and trying to put groceries in the car, but trunk, and all doors except driver's door (which was stuck shut when I got off work, but luckily it opened with some slight pulling) were frozen shut despite there having been no precipitation! It was just THAT cold! Consistent winds of about 20 MPH. Had to literally toss my groceries across the driver's seat onto the floor of the passenger seat and just hope for the best! Luckily everything made it fine! :-D

Wind forecasted for the next several days and more snow on Sunday! Yay! I just love living in the northern mid-west. And if anyone believes that last sentence, I have some ocean-front property in North Dakota to sell you.

So the Winter blues are still trying to drown me. Can't wait for Spring!

Then again, my parents taught me a song when I was very young:

Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring would be a weary season, if there were nothing else but Spring ...

I started to make the post, but there seems to be a problem viewing the battle-grid map currently? At least for me? So I will have to try to get that issue resolved first. Sorry again for the delay folks.

EDIT: It looks like I may have to change permissions for editing the map as apparently someone has completely erased the map itself along with some other details. Right now I AM VERY PISSED OFF!!! I'm not even going to ask anybody here to pardon my french. I don't care right now.

In order to give you all access I will be needing an email address, so if you are willing please go ahead and send it to me. Feel free to send in a PM. I promise I WILL NOT share it with anyone else.

Stormster, I think I got the battle grid back close to what it was... at least from my memory of what was revealed... Sounds like we might have some voyeuristic gremlins or an enemy from somewhere... (0),(0)

I think you have my email... If you need it again, let me know and I'll send it PM style. :)

For some reason or other, the 'fixes' that Mended made - while greatly appreciated! - do not show on my laptop. Even though they do show on my smartphone?!? Anyways, so I'm having to do all the fixings myself.

I have changed editing permissions to only those with an invite, and to do the inviting I have to have an email address. So if you want to be able to move your own mini on the map, and such, you will need to send me an email address please.

Mended & Uriel, you have both been invited already.

If you have trust issues, I think Mended would not mind confirming, I have had his email for quite some time and he has not gotten anything strange from me, nor have I given out his email to anyone else. Feel free to PM me, or ask me for my email and I will pm it to you or just post it in here if you don't care.

Yes, I will confer most heartily. Stormstrider will not use your email for anything untoward or nefarious. :)

So our characters have gone into the room and then into the next where we see 2 more trogs. And we are awaiting another GM post. Have I got it right?

Uriel doesn’t mind being in the front of the party to enter new rooms, but keep in mind he wishes to avoid any metal eating boxes, god or not. That is one reason he gave the haversack with the “sacrifices” back to Aldy. I think Boudacia has the other one...

Computer issues ... will post in game asap, but not today.

Uriel- Yes, I do.

Ummm, RL/ICE!!!! Issues! Hating the ice! Too tired now to post tonight, sorry.

Anybody heard from Chalkou or Sama (alphabetical order, which is how I try to do all names each time) recently? (Not really OCD related, just a good way too avoid both sexist or favoritism sentiments/arguments, I do it alphabetically.)

Thanks for the email address Sama! I got it, but at work I cannot access the battlegrid to add you, so I will add you after I get home from work (roughly 1:30AM Central).

No worries. It's not like we're in a fight. YET.

Ok, not sure what's happened to Chalkou? His last post in here was on 2/4, but another of his aliases made a post as recently as 2/11?!? I was hoping to here from him before continuing on.

No posts here since 2/4 (that's NINE days!), but with evidence of posts under other aliases since then, makes me wonder if he decided to drop out of this game?

What do the rest of you think we should do?

Probably PM him and ask what is up.

Things have been a bit slow here recently. I have sometimes not realised things have started again when things had been paused for a bit. Maybe that is it.

PM sent.

He might be in a part of the country suffering outages due to the heavy winter storms.

Entirely possible.

If that were the case, how did he post under a different alias? Or if he got a temporary access somewhere else, why did he not post here?

You have a point. It could still be down to interrupted access to the net.

Sorry I’ve been out for a bit. Life got busy. Work’s going to stay that way for another week or so. I’ll try to post when I can.

Sorry I’ve been out for a bit. Life got busy. Work’s going to stay that way for another week or so. I’ll try to post when I can.

Okay! Thank you for letting us know. Got your PM, I will add your email to the battle grid permissions after I get home from work (roughly 1:20 am central).

Happy birthday, Stormstrider!

Yes, Happy Birthday Stormstrider from me also. :)

It's your birthday? How old are you 29 again?! ;) Happy birthday strider of life's storms. Keep on striding!

Thanks for the birthday wishes! And especially so to Aldy! I appreciated that & needed that laugh! You know good and well that I'm older than that by quite a bit! Specifically 20 yrs older! My next birthday I'll have half a century under my belt so to say!

TLDR: I may be having intermittent (or even non-existent) WI-FI issues for the foreseeable future. I will post as best I can. I do have to wait 'til I get home (hopefully having internet!) to be able to start you all on to the next level.

Okay, working on getting Uriel to level 5:

Level 5 Hit Point Roll: 1d10 ⇒ 2

- New abilities:

Divine Bond (on Longsword), 1x/day for 5 minutes + can activate using Lay on Hands.

Feat -- Aquatic Combatant: +2 Swim, can use longsword normally underwater (no attack penalty, full regular damage)

...also, Uriel will keep his shield strapped onto his back while they are in the water so he can swim better (game terms removes a -1 ACP, but mostly for me imaginging trying to swim with a shield on my arm)...

Note, character is updated in the link, stats assume shield not in use

HP, Boudacia: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

%%%%% dice rolling program.

Hey Stormy- How do you feel about me taking -

Potent Hex
You have developed more powerful hexes.

Prerequisite: Hex class feature.

Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to the DC of all your hexes.

It is a 3rd party feat, Kobold Press.

If that feat is not OK, I will probably take Accursed Hex.

My new spells are Stinking Cloud & Dispel Magic.

There are some other 3rd level spells on the witch list I should probably get for the good of the party, Remove Curse and Remove Disease, then Neutralise Poison when I get level 4 spells.

There is no Cleric in the party, though fortunately we have a witch who can do some of the things you need a cleric for. Sadly the Restoration spells are not on the Witch list.

Boudacia I'm good with the potent hex feat. Thank you for asking first! AND don't forget that I allow you all to reroll 1's for HP ONE time! So feel free to re-roll that HP once! (If you want to ... Hahaha!)

HP, Boudacia: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Of course I asked before taking something 3rd party. My blessings to the GM, just as I cursed the dice rolling program. I am going to do something unpleasant and permanent to that silicon demon one day soon.

Stormstrider- I don't know what is causing your stomach problems, but it sounds really bad. Hope things improve. At least there is some kind of good news about your landlord and his wife.

Edit- OK, that is the final straw. This means total war. Death to the dice rolling program, even if it is not alive. I am going to make it regret being born, even though it has not. What the French did to Damiens the regicide is nothing compared to what I am going to do to this computer code piece of sh%%.

Well, Boudacia, at least that should make Uriel feel better about rolling a 2 hopefully? So maybe you can consider your rolls a 'charity' work for others perhaps? ;-D (I'm trying here folks, I'm trying!)

And my stomach is feeling better now, still not 100%, but better. Now my whole body just feels exhausted and achy as if it had been battling something for quite a while. Hopefully that's a sign that whatever was going on is over with and I just gotta recuperate now?

I am glad to hear your stomach is improved.

Dice rolls are independent of course, which I am sure you know. The actual HPs I have rolled for my character are 11 on 4d6 when the average is 15.6667. So I am being ripped off by the evil dice rolling program, but it is not that bad really. I rarely take much damage because I and the other PCs organise things so the squishy PCs stay out of close combat.

Fellow Players I think we should not go far into this flooded level before going back to town and getting some magical support and spells that allows us to deal with an aquatic environment.

Uriel has some skill in water environments, but he does not have the ability to breathe water. He is okay to push into the level until/unless it is impossible due to fully submerged areas, if we really have no magic with us to breathe water.

Ifff we can get a scroll of water breathing in town I can transcribe that into my spellbook, but that's still suboptimal as it means using up my 3rd-level spells so that a couple of us can fumble around underwater with a ton of penalties (and casting my electrical spells underwater is uh, probably not great).

Hit points: 1d6 ⇒ 6

HP: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Ifff we can get a scroll of water breathing in town I can transcribe that into my spellbook, but that's still suboptimal as it means using up my 3rd-level spells so that a couple of us can fumble around underwater with a ton of penalties (and casting my electrical spells underwater is uh, probably not great).

Indeed.

What's that? Going back to town? Hmmm ... The ceiling above you just sealed completely shut. How are you going to get back to town?

I do need inputs / votes from everybody about going back to town or not, that is of course assuming you can find a way back to town??? And just a heads up, to advance out of the first room on the next level you will have to get completely submerged, and you will be completely submerged for a fair portion of the level - unless you pull some fancy something or other on me!

And Aldy? I have not seen any post for your new HP yet, or anything else for that matter? Everything ok? (I'll send a PM just in case.)

Hey all, sorry for my absence; we had a blizzard. Remember, one snow flake is beautiful, but a centillion snow flakes will bury you alive. :)

Level 5 HP: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Well that's above average least. :) I'll get to leveling up here shortly, but I might not get to finish today as I'm expecting a large amount of work to show up with the mailman, if he can make it through the snow drifts. :)

As for going back to town. I do have a possible alternative, though I'm not sure how effective it will be. I've been considering taking a level in Cleric. An Inquisitor is really just a specialized cleric anyway, so taking a level of Cleric would put Air Bubble on Aldhranhald's spell list. Obviously if Stormstrider is all right with that, it could alleviate some of the stress of this level... I'm not exactly sure how his casting will work in that case, if he can cast cleric spells using his Inquisitor slots? Or what. I'll get on it here quickly and hope to have a more detailed post up either later today or tomorrow morning in that regard. :)

Update. I don't have time to update my profile and such today, but, I have a solution to the water level problem. As a fifth level caster, and having gained a feat from taking a level in Cleric... sneaky, I know, Aldhranhald will be taking the Craft Wand feat. Which will allow him to craft a wand of Air Bubble with 50 charges. By my understanding of the rule he need only expend 375 gold pieces to create a level one wand, and it would only take 3/4 of a day to do so. I don't remember how much wealth we all have, we might need to pool gold in order for him to do it, but it is possible. I'll look more into the details when I have time, but just wanted to let everyone know that Aldhranhald should be able to get us through the submerged level with breathable air in a bubble around our heads. :) Each casting from the wand will last a minute, but hopefully if we actually track our movement in the level through initiative rounds, we can make that one wand last for the entire level...?

Sorry Aldy, doesn't work. You can't take Craft Wand because it requires a minimum caster level of 5, and your caster level would be inquisitor 4/cleric 1, neither of which meets the requirement.

Also, I have no way to protect my spellbook from becoming waterlogged and destroyed on this level, so that ends my ability to function as a wizard.

Sorry Aldy, doesn't work. You can't take Craft Wand because it requires a minimum caster level of 5, and your caster level would be inquisitor 4/cleric 1, neither of which meets the requirement.

Also, I have no way to protect my spellbook from becoming waterlogged and destroyed on this level, so that ends my ability to function as a wizard.

Really? Hero Lab said I met the prerequisites for it. I always thought caster level 5 meant five total levels of spell casting classes. That's not what it means?

Edit: If that really is the case, @Stormstrider, can we get a houserule that says Caster Level = total levels in casting classes? It would make life a lot easier for all of us, including you, because then we've got an Air Bubble candy cane. Btw air bubble can protect objects from water as well, so that would protect your spellbook Sama. :)

Sama Kattan wrote:

Ifff we can get a scroll of water breathing in town I can transcribe that into my spellbook, but that's still suboptimal as it means using up my 3rd-level spells so that a couple of us can fumble around underwater with a ton of penalties (and casting my electrical spells underwater is uh, probably not great).

Indeed.

But fumbling around underwater while breathing is better than fumbling around drowning underwater.
You need to make a concentration check DC 15 to cast underwater if you can't breathe underwater.
And I can't help sorry. Every kind of spellcaster seems to get water breathing except one. The Witch. :(

I believe, however, “Air Bubble” is on the Witch’s spell list...

It is my understanding that for purpose of feats, it is your TOTAL caster level to meet any prerequisites. So that means that Aldy would be able to take 'Craft Wand'. *** The question now is ... do you have the materials necessary to craft a wand of 'Air Bubble' down here without going back to town?

And Uriel is correct that 'Air Bubble' is on the Witch's spell list.

So, several questions to consider and answer ... Does the majority want to go back to town or not? And if so, how do you propose getting back through the 'ceiling/floor' that just sealed shut behind you?

If your able to create or purchase a wand of 'Air Bubble' or Sama gets 'Water Breathing' - either of those will take care of the breathing issues. Movement??? So far we have at least 2 'anchors' in the group (going by memory here).

Uriel is wearing medium armor and has a +5 Swim when his shield is stowed on his back.

If Boudacia is willing to take “Air Bubble” as one of her spells gained at fifth level, then prepare it in all her first level slots, that means we can have about 45 rounds of air each when we get to a location fully submerged. If we “stay in rounds” once that spell is going, we could hopefully get quite a bit done. Combining it with a good swimmer doing some scouting (if we have one), it could work.

Oh Wow! Yes, if [b]Boudacia[/] learned it, and it lasts for 1 min / lev, so 5 minutes per casting, so 50 rounds per casting, that should work as far as the breathing part goes, and that one has no need of going back to town.

Movement is still going to be hampered to say the least, so unless someone has some magical spell or something to help with that? One could potentially get caught in a current and trapped or pinned somewhere and spend the entire 50 rounds trapped there and then start suffocating ... just saying.

Oh Wow! Yes, if Boudacia learned it, and it lasts for 1 min / lev, so 5 minutes per casting, so 50 rounds per casting, that should work as far as the breathing part goes, and that one has no need of going back to town.

Movement is still going to be hampered to say the least, so unless someone has some magical spell or something to help with that? One could potentially get caught in a current and trapped or pinned somewhere and spend the entire 50 rounds trapped there and then start suffocating ... just saying.

Touch of the Sea would be the mobility equivalent, and it is on the wizard spell list (level 1, 1 minute/lvl duration, etc)...although it would be a departure from the air path for Sama to learn that spell...

Touch of the Sea would be a GREAT spell for this level! And I do allow 're-training' of feats or spells (at no additional cost or time or expense of any kind other than going through the trouble to update your character sheet / tag-line info)the next time you level up so ...

Stormstrider- Sama and Boudacia are both prepared caster so won't have to retrain spells.

I am quite prepared [no pun intended] to take Air Bubble. However, Water Breathing is much better. Read-

Air Bubble
School conjuration (creation); Level cleric 1, druid 1, psychic 1, ranger 1, sorcerer/wizard 1, witch 1

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components S, M/DF (a small bladder filled with air)

EFFECT

Range touch
Target one creature or one object no larger than a Large two-handed weapon
Duration 1 minute/level
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)

DESCRIPTION

Air bubble creates a small pocket of breathable air that surrounds the touched creature’s head or the touched object. The air bubble allows the creature touched to breathe underwater or in similar airless environments, or protects the object touched from water damage. A firearm within an air bubble can be loaded—assuming the black powder comes from a powder horn, a cartridge, or some other airtight protective device—and fired. When shooting such a firearm underwater, the shot still takes the standard –2 penalty on attack rolls for every 5 feet of water the bullet passes through, in addition to normal penalties due to range. If a firearm within the air bubble explodes, the explosion occurs normally.

Water Breathing
School transmutation; Level alchemist 3, bloodrager 3, cleric/oracle 3, druid 3, magus 3, psychic 3, shaman 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, summoner/unchained summoner 3; Domain water 3; Elemental School water 3

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (short reed or piece of straw)

EFFECT

Range touch
Target living creatures touched
Duration 2 hours/level; see text
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)

DESCRIPTION

The transmuted creatures can breathe water freely. Divide the duration evenly among all the creatures you touch. The spell does not make creatures unable to breathe air.

Reasons-
Air Bubble only works on one creature per casting. We have 5 PCs plus Wayne. So 1 PC and 1 bat will be w/o the spells benefit. And it lasts 1 min/level.
Contrast Water Breathing which lasts 2 Hours/level and you divide the duration by the no of creatures it is cast on. That is 10/6 hours, or 1 hour 40 minutes for the whole party with 1 casting.

Water Breathing is on the Wizard list and the thing to do is have Sama take that and memorise it at least once.

That solves all our problems except Sama not having a way to protect her spellbook from water. That is a big deal for a wizard. We can ask Stormstrider if he wants to rule on if a handy haversack is waterproof.

The rules don't say and I would think not myself, backpacks are not normally waterproof. But it can't hurt to ask.

Finally, Aldhranhald won't have to take a level of cleric which will really mess up his progression.