The Father of Waters

Game Master Fighting Chicken

This post has nothing to do with this game folks - I need a virtual dice roller I can point someone to via email.

4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 2, 1) = 12 11
4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 1, 3) = 12 11
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5, 3) = 15 13
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 1) = 13 12
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 4) = 10 9
4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 6, 6) = 19 16

Wow my "tree carving" looks like hot garbage on my mobile version of firefox. It looks great on my desktop though, I swear! Sorry to anyone that has to witness the butchered version..

This post has nothing to do with this game folks - I need a virtual dice roller I can point someone to via email.

A likely story! Why did you roll 4d6 6 times then?

We're at level 4, and we've had 6 different players in the game. You rolled 6 different times... so logically..

(4*6)^6 = 191,102,976

Which is the approximate distance in light years from the Milky Way to the Small Magellanic Cloud (Nubecula Minor) which is a DWARF galaxy.

Try nice at hiding the truth, BP. I bet you thought you were going to drag this out, drop esoteric hints until you blindsided us with the final reveal.

But you just made it clear as crystal, and i'm telling everyone.

The Darohm ARE SPACE DWARFS FROM ANOTHER GALAXY!

Try coyotecode.net

I didn't chime in on the porn appreciation as I did not have any details on the positioning involved! Also didn't have anything to add! It was a hell of an amazing thing to throw in.

@Istiel: it all makes sense now!

Pretty close, Istiel, pretty close.

What are you all doing? Laying a trap? Hunting after the spy? Something else?

I've still got Imix to respond to, but otherwise it seems we're ready to move on if you're not doing anything about the spy?

There's a spy? The one who scrawled a message in the tree or someone else?

I'm open to doing something about the spy. Ideas welcome.

Sorry for the confusion. The spy is the message-scrawler, in that he/she/it is/was spying on the tower (but s/he/it is not imbedded in your Flight or anything like that).

Well, it managed to evade two very perceptive monks in the night. Don't even know what it wants. Same handwriting as the tower seems to indicate that it's the one ghost that got away doing it.

The staff Oios has is the best way to detect it if it is an undead something doing this. Has to be held by a worshipper of Damballah for it to work though.

@GMBP; did Tepix actually work the canoe out, or did he get lucky when he did something stupid. More importantly, what do the kids claim happen?

Assuming Drazan is made aware of the spy's existence, he can volunteer to add another set of eyes to look instead of essentially researching blacksmithing.

Side question for BP, would it be possible to find enough adamantine to craft light chain armor or a piecemeal of it. I ask because no matter which rules I look at for crafting, each one goes into the talking about material cost, and I remember their being quite a bit of the unique metal. Not that I have found any way to make this said armor in a week without a lot of modifiers.

So after much thought what I actually am going to do is fyorge a pair of adamatine rings, one for Drazan's betrothed and one for himself. Probably not in this culture, but its the best thing he could come up with and assuredly they wont be so much as considered pretty, but the thought is what counts.

Then with any remaining time assemble some leather armor for Fulton and then himself.

I am very interested in armour if there is enough metal to actually make it work.

Sorry, work is pretty demanding this week. I hoped to get Imix an update today.

I'll carve out some time and answer questions tomorrow.

No problems!

Been busy myself. So any ideas on how to catch a ghost dwarf?

Honestly, given it was a spellcaster... maybe that "camp" was a trap for us to fnd so it could deliver its message. If it can leave no trace when it wants to, why else would it climb a tree?

Do we have any idea about a trap for a ghost? We might have to wait for it to make the first move sadly.

The only way to counter it is magic I think and the caravan is susceptible to hit and run attacks from a ghost. Set up a better alerting system so that as soon as anyone is attacked the magic users of the group can rush in to help? I don't think there's any NPCs with skills that would be useful other than patrolling.

Hm. What about...an Incantation? (Haven't tried one of these yet, and I've wanted to ever since I first read SoP - they look awesome.)

Adamantine:

There's lots of it, but most all of it is in the mines, waiting extraction.

Yd was using it to create the Nargun. More research of the spiral room will explain that process in more detail, but each Nargun doesn't use that much adamantine, and Yd was creating them as he goes, so it stands to reason that there's not like an armory's worth of the stuff lying around.

There's certainly enough in the rubble for Drazan's rings (skeletons aren't great miners). We'll roll for how much else is laying around unused (see below for roll).

As for the armor, you'd have to mine that much adamantine in raw materials cost, per the crafting rules, if I recall them right off the top of my head. You could put a bunch of laborers on the task and see how much you get per week of raw material, I suppose.

If you can't get that much, you could always mine some and take it with you regardless, for something later.

This location is basically designed to be a large (but stationary) treasure. I think you've got the right idea to abandon it now, but in the future, you can always come back, and have access to a dwarf city, adamantine mine, Nargun creation, etc.

What types of armor are you both interested in? I see light chain for Drazan. That's about 1200 in raw materials.

We'll say that there is currently unused but mined adamantine equal to 1d1000 ⇒ 60 X 1d10 ⇒ 9 gp available to you.

Dicebot is cruel. 540 gp of raw material adamantine currently available.

Incantations look like the best bet since hitting it with Bane repeatedly isn't the obvious easy solution

Hm. What about...an Incantation? (Haven't tried one of these yet, and I've wanted to ever since I first read SoP - they look awesome.)

Heh. The incantation rules are pretty sweet. I'm actually using them for the Nargun creation (and we'll be using them for any champion creation that you all decide to do down the line, if Imix pursues that avenue of thought).

What type of incantation are you looking for regarding your foe?

Drazan, we had posts cross paths. Just wanted to make sure you see the one above yours, since it deals with armor and ring creation.

Well it seems like Damballah worshipers are very Life and Positive Energy focused so any Incantation from Nat/Oios would lean on that flavour to detect a Negative Energy creature (Life and Divination) or trap/destroy it (Life and Creation/Destruction/War).

Some sort of positive energy (Life sphere) based thing aimed at laying unquiet spirits to rest - a cross between 'you belong dead' and 'leave now and never come back' I guess.

If it tries to disrupt the ritual then Drazan and Istiel get to banish it by more conventional methods.

OK, so moving onto next week, questions:

There's still some secrets that some rooms have to uncover. Is anyone working in any of them?

The pier will be done next week. Then boats can be reassembled. So, earliest you'd be ready to embark would be two weeks time, give or take.

Are you going to put anyone on mining?

Regarding the spy, you're not doing anything direct at this time? I'm going to say no to the incantation right now, because it will just lead you all down a path of frustration - you're not dealing with a ghost, so there's nothing to lay to rest.

Ooooooh yes let's use an incantation!

Instead of it ouright banishing ghost dwarf 2.0, what if we used the incantation to draw it in (like a undead-specific vacuum) so we could destroy it through more stabby means?

I have some work to do, so I can think about this more in-depth and actually follow the rules later in the spheres of power wiki later, BUT

I was thinking it could be like creating an irresistable beacon of positive energy that attracts undead over a certain mile radius. Like the sound of an amateur Taylor Swift/Justin Bieber mashup song stuck on repeat, undead would want to find this source of positive energy and destroy it (because undead hate positive energy and life n s!$*). To mindless undead it would seem like a giant target and beeline for it, but to sentient undead it would seem more like a looming threat if they didn't have prior knowledge of the incantation. No concentration of positive energy that big could be good for them, especially if it were unleashed (which it can't be, at least not unless we design a second ritual around the first).

Here's the fun part: the focus should be some kind of developing life. A fertilized egg, pregnant woman, etc, with some kind of DC or power threshold being influenced by the gestation period of the embryo, how far along it is, whatever. The point is Paola will act as the focus of the incantation, and ultimately the origin point for the beacon of positive energy (the bait). Given Nat's recent discovery of Paola's pregnancy and her love of midwife's choices, I feel like this would be right up her alley. I'm sure there are other pregnant women in the flight, but it seems narratively appropriate to use Paola at this junction.

I haven't thought about backlash yet, but it could get really nasty, real fast.

The whole thing would be very high risk considering how we're dealing with an acidball wand-wielding ghost dwarf, but risk is what incatations are all about, right?

Edit: Oh it's not a ghost? Is it... an undead at all?

Well if we're going by Divination then Oios can detect a bunch of things. Maybe an Incantation could supercharge divine magic since we're fairly magic poor and the thing that left the message seems pretty magical.

When you divine, you detect the strength and location of all magical auras within Medium range. You do not know the exact caster level of an item or spell, but you may sense the aura’s general strength according to the chart below. To determine the spell school or sphere of the effect, you must pass a Knowledge (arcana) check with a DC equal to 15 + 1/2 the caster level.

Interesting (although in light of GMBP's revelation, sadly irrelevant) fact: there may be, because of Quantum, a universe in which Nat agrees to use a pregnant woman as the focus of a dangerous ritual; but it is not this one.

Question for GMBP: what skill check could we use to find the spy?

Hmmm I think Oios might be on the right track. We could have an incantation that increase the range of his divintation magic when it's highly specific? Or maybe power up his staff?

Staff's for undead. So it's a dead end (lol).

^ Ha!

However, I said that the spy is not a ghost. I didn't say it is not undead. In fact, given what you know, assuming it is undead is a reasonable assumption.

No food in Darholme. No sleeping/cooking area at the campsite. Lots of undead at Darholme. No living creatures there, except captives.

Interesting (although in light of GMBP's revelation, sadly irrelevant) fact: there may be, because of Quantum, a universe in which Nat agrees to use a pregnant woman as the focus of a dangerous ritual; but it is not this one.

Hehe, that was my thought. Way of the Wicked Nat would be all about it though.

Question for GMBP: what skill check could we use to find the spy?

As a regular skill check? Religion to identify the spy (if/when it is located). Perception to find the spy hidden. Survival to track the spy. Will save to disbelieve illusions.

As an incantation? Religion would certainly play a roll in augmenting Oios' staff. I'm not sure what else would be needed. Perception to shine its light in the darkest corners, metaphorically?

So Drazan's forging some rings. What else are you all going to be up to?

You can put people on mining, you can study rooms, you can do crafting stuff, you can create capital (goods, labor, influence, magic) per the downtime rules using skill checks, you can do something I'm not thinking of?

Anything trying to trap the spy your PCs attempt will be in addition to your weekly activities.

OK, wiki updated:

New page: Darholme with locations of the city from surface to swamp.

Antagonists

Frozen NPCs

Player-created NPCs

Minor edits on other NPC pages.

However, I said that the spy is not a ghost. I didn't say it is not undead. In fact, given what you know, assuming it is undead is a reasonable assumption.

Ah. In that case my idea of a Life-based ritual still stands: summoning positive energy that seeks out and puts the thing to rest/destroys it.

Hehe, that was my thought. Way of the Wicked Nat would be all about it though.

Ha! WotW Nat would be an Asmodean Witness...

"Have you heard the Bad News about our Lord and Slaver?"

Imix radiates positive energy, if you need a beacon that Nat is prepared to endanger.

Imix will try to have a quiet meeting with Oios first, I think, before necessarily announcing to the world. Might not wait with Sarre though.

Need a name for the "collective". They should probably pick it? Maybe with guidance though...

I also had the breakthrough (and I think Imix will in a little bit) that given rotation is so important this language is going to be incredibly good at hiding information.

That scrawled text that seems to go every which way? Wonder if that is actually glyphs made up of smaller word-glyphs. Glyphs could be hidden in architecture. Anything that rotates could have hidden meaning. Pages could be read in multiple directions (like a 2D palindrome)

Oios will focus his library reading on undeath and necromancy to try and help with the threat.

That scrawled text that seems to go every which way? Wonder if that is actually glyphs made up of smaller word-glyphs. Glyphs could be hidden in architecture. Anything that rotates could have hidden meaning. Pages could be read in multiple directions (like a 2D palindrome)

Well, this is happening now!

Lovely post, Imix. I love the idea of a collective journeyman.

Wow Imix, great post. I like the idea of the collective journeymen as well. I also like watchingg Imix be a father figure :p

So Drazan's forging some rings. What else are you all going to be up to?

Sorry, I forgot to answer this before. Firstly, I want to say you have created a really cool place, Bp. The "stationary treasure" is an awesome idea, and I love all the lore and secrets and things it's stuffed with. Unfortunately, even though I find it all fascinating, Istiel is interested in none of it, which doesn't allow me to help all that much.

I mean hell, she only recently learned it might not be a good idea to rush into things and get herself killed. It's going to be a while longer before she learns the Power of Friendship(TM) and cooperation. Sadly she can't contribute too much to catching the spy beyond ambushing it /beating the crap out of it either. Unlike Drazen, I've purposely made a character that is for FITE until she goes through some kind of (even more) significant change.

So uh, I guess she'll be doing lots of push-ups and continuing her patrols of the surrounding area, keeping an eye out for Frozen scouts and continuing to track our undead spy. Tell me if I need to roll anything (survival, perception, Knowledge: ghost droppings or whatever), or just roll for me. I won't be disappointed if there's nothing to find, so don' feel like you have to make something up for me.

The other other thing I can think of her doing is policing the flight and dispensing some judge/jury/executioner justice... and I don't think anyone really wants that right now.

"The woman warrior-monk, the unpleasant one. No, not Istiel, the other one, from the capital. No one has seen her in a couple of days."

LOL. Well, assuming Oios passes on this information to Istiel, first order of business is she'll go looking for Scree, starting with the location of the stake-out to see if she's still stubbornly waiting there.

Wow uh.

Not that you all have to worry about this... but don't volunteer to be an npc associated with Istiel. Really bad track record on the whole living thing.

Not that you all have to worry about this... but don't volunteer to be an npc associated with Istiel. Really bad track record on the whole living thing.

No kidding, duely noted. X.X

I hate to bring this up at a dark moment in Istiel's life, but why does Istiel always refer or speak of Drazan with an "E" instead of an "A"?

Meh. GMBP doesn't worry about killing PCs, so NPCs are gonna fall when they're gonna fall...

Could Nat come with you, btw? She doesn't have much to do right now and would want to see if any healing is needed (although obviously Scree is beyond anyone's help).

Ha! WotW Nat would be an Asmodean Witness...

"Have you heard the Bad News about our Lord and Slaver?"

I would like to see this. "Bad News," heh.

I hate to bring this up at a dark moment in Istiel's life, but why does Istiel always refer or speak of Drazan with an "E" instead of an "A"?

Also, while we're clearing up name-spellings, Oios has been calling Istiel Isitel.

I sadly never noticed the Drazan/Drazen one.

Isitel? What kind of name is Isitel?

Seriously though if Nat is going then Oios will give her Telowo's staff. I think she's enough of a worshipper of Damballah for it to work for her.

I hate to bring this up at a dark moment in Istiel's life, but why does Istiel always refer or speak of Drazan with an "E" instead of an "A"?

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Because... well...

If I was clever I'd come up with a really serious in-character reason that would make complete sense if you looked through my post history.

But um... her player has truly thought it was "Drazen" for... two years now?

I wish I was joking. I thought you were trying to be funny, then looked at your name, and did a double take. Wow. I don't know how the E turned into an A, but it did.

Nat: I don't mind if Nat comes along. Up to BP if we can retcon that.

Sorry, I forgot to answer this before. Firstly, I want to say you have created a really cool place, Bp. The "stationary treasure" is an awesome idea, and I love all the lore and secrets and things it's stuffed with.

As do I!

Happy to have a confrontation scene with people about if they want - and should probably inform Oios at least. While IC I'd normally let the kids explain their own achievement (bringing Oios into the scene) OOC I'm not sure about creating extra work for poor GMBP.

The woman lays on her side, propped on one elbow, her hand holding her head up, as if she is enjoying a relaxing picnic with friends. Her dead eyes, cloudy and naked-looking with the warrior-monk's mask gone, stare at the ground in front of her. There, her intestines, removed from her stomach, have been cut into pieces and arranged on the ground in the shapes of various Darohm runes.

This was beautiful. I'd gotten to like Scree, and I felt relief at the first sentence - of course she was still on guard - and got sucker punched by the second.

Should we get the party together to go ghost hunting? It's been a while.

Nat: I don't mind if Nat comes along. Up to BP if we can retcon that.

Consider it retconned!

Not sure what the apprentices are doing, but given (A) The canoe came from the library and (B) Oios is cataloguing the library, where the majority of runes come from and (C) they've spent a week in the ritual room and it is stupidly hot... that Oios is about to get four "helpers" in the library.

Ha! Yep!

I'd gotten to like Scree, and I felt relief at the first sentence - of course she was still on guard - and got sucker punched by the second.

I like Scree too. I built her to basically Ape Istiel's worst qualities, and I see why Galorit enjoys playing Istiel so much :)

What's that saying? You always kill the NPCs you love? Sigh...

Scree was a great character, and the expert aping of Istiel's poor personality traits gave my own character a reason for self-reflection. Not to mention Scree pretty much proved what Domhnall was saying all along...

What's that saying? You always kill the NPCs you love? Sigh...

Grease-Fingered Ladzlo says hi.

BTW, is my idea of a Life-based ritual (summoning positive energy that seeks out and puts the thing to rest/destroys it) a way of dealing with our problem?

^ Oh yeah, I hate that guy!

Regarding the ritual, I'm a little leery of giving you all a kill the undead nuke. I'd be willing to work with you to develop a ritual (incantation) that can augment the staff in order to locate (and perhaps weaken) a specific undead, however.

Questions:

How would Nat know of such a ritual?

If she doesn't (and it seems that this lore would be not something every priest in the world would know), then it will have to be designed by you all. It should have:

skill checks
specific triggers

I'm inclined to think that having a name and a connection to the undead to be hunted would be part of it.

Well, speaking of rituals and incantations...
How much more work does Imix think there would be in jury-rigging a Champion ritual tied to positive energy?
Is this something GMBP is happy with, or a terrible, terrible idea?