The Great (Pathfinder) Society...in Magnimar! (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Swanson

Ganer, right now Rekkart has not noticed your lack of a disguise due to the fact he was focused on the shadow. I will give you a chance to cover yourself up if you want before he notices you.

Also, I apologize for not really having the NPC's react much to your presence due to the fact of where you guys are right now. Should you escape this courthouse and start adventuring in Absalom, then the NPCs there will certainly react to your appearance, he he.

Good point, I hadn't realized that he was standing in the darkness.

My wife is having surgery tomorrow in the morning, so I may not be on until Thursday if all goes well.

No sweat Horven. Hope the surgery goes well for your wife.

I'm traveling today and will be on vacation at a medical conference for till Sunday night. I'll post what I can when I'm back on my hotel in the evenings. Really enjoying the game so far!

The wife's surgery went well. Haven't been getting much sleep though.

Oookay...so are you saying you are not getting sleep DESPITE the surgery going well, or BECAUSE it went well? ;)

Update coming this evening....

Despite the surgery going well, I can only seem to manage 5 hours of sleep every two days :P

Guys sorry to do this but I am going to have to drop. I have way to much on my plate at the minute and this is one of the only times I have been able to get on for more than 5 minutes. I am really really sorry I just don't have the time any more. I hope that everyone manages to survive the horrors.

Ratcliff, sorry to hear that. I understand RL always takes a priority to the games we play. Hope things work out good for you and hopefully I'll see you around on these boards.

Everyone else, Well, I guess its decision time here. We have several options here:

1) Keep going, with Ratcliff NPCd by me. This is the easiest way to go for now but as this is a thinking mans adventure, having one less person to consult would make things tougher.

2) Recruit another player to take over Ratcliff's character. I hate doing that but due to where you guys are at it is not possible to bring in a new player...yet.

3) End the current story line here and continue on with something new. I would reopen recruiting to add 2 or 3 more players, then move on to something different. If you decide to do this...I would FF through the adventure and you would eventually escape the courthouse with your lives...

Chime in with your vote here and also let me know if you have any other ideas.

Thanks guys.

I hope everything works itself out for you Ratcliff, we'll be sending you nothing but well wishes and I'd be happy to see you again on the boards if you have the time in the future.

As for what we should do with the rest of the adventure, what if we pursued both one and three? If you reopened recruiting while we continued to play with Ratcliff as an NPC, we could could continue on with something new in a week or two after character applications were done and we had the chance to unravel just a bit more of the mystery and flesh out some role playing amongst ourselves.

I am willing to NPC Ratcliff, however I should mention there are things he knows which you need to be aware of if you are going to solve the mystery here and escape with your lives. That is just the nature of the module I am afraid, all four players are supposed to work together here and to piece together all of their visions in order to succeed. Keep in mind you MUST solve the mystery here if you are going to escape.

I will wait for the other players to give their input here.

I can see how this could become difficult. I'm alright with stopping and starting something new if that seems to be the general consensus.
I've enjoyed this group quite well so far!

My issue with option 1 is that I see an inherent danger of having him turned into an NPC. We lose a fresh perspective and it puts more of a burden on Eric, so I would kinda push for option 2. It's hard enough questioning the NPCs we do have :P

I'll officially support option 3, though I would really like to finish this adventure. Ehh, this is a toughie.

I can't say that I'm a huge fan of option 2, simply from the perspective that I wouldn't want to be brought into a game to play someone else's character. I'm having a great time with this game, my only complaint is that I wish I'd made different choices about Ganer's spells.

Without a better answer, I think I'm going to agree with what seems to have become a consensus: find a replacement and fast forward.

Okay, the vote is in...And Option 3 has it...so the plan is for the three of you to continue with your characters once you have escaped the courthouse, and to recruit a replacement or three.

OK, to bring this adventure to some sort of conclusion I want the three of you to tell me what your plan of action is here. Basically, I know you want to escape, but I also need to know:

A) Whether you believe Mord is guilty or innocent of the murder charges against him and,
B) If he is innocent, then who among the jurors do you think knows the truth behind who killed Mord's wife and son.

Keep in mind Ratcliff has experienced a vision and he would gladly tell you he saw a figure approach what you all believe is Mord's wife and also adds he saw her standing defiantly and lashed out with her knitting needle at the cloaked figure.

Please post your answers here in the discussion thread, along with any other questions you may have. I would encourage you to read the game thread completely as there may be some clues you missed. Once you have posted your answers, I will extrapolate what happens to your characters on what you have decided. Keep in mind I may ask other questions from you as well.

P.S. Since I know you all want to continue with your characters, do you have any preference as to what you want to do? One option is to join the Pathfinder Society and take part in the Shattered Star AP, which looks interesting. If not, then throw some other ideas out there, I am all ears :)

Horven will continue thinking that:
A) Mord was innocent of the murder charges
B) That Rekkart Cole would know the truth
And he, at least, tries to find enough evidence to justify his thinking (i.e. looking at Rekkart's hand).

Questions:
1. Whatever happened to the other adventuring group from 5 years ago?
2. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this takes place 10 years after Jabin Mord's execution, so is there a significance in that?

I have never played any APs before (homebrew at home and PFS on here) so I'm game for anything, except Jade Regent (just doesn't seem that interesting to me). It kinda depends on what you have, Eric. So feel free to post a list.

A) After what he learned about the spirit when he was alone, Ganer doesnt know whether or not Mord was innocent, but he doesn't believe that he did what he was executed for.
B)He suspects Malgrim, Madge, Ebbin, Rekkart and Killian know what is going on, those first three he expects of doing it, and he thinks Rekkart was somehow forced into cooperating. He would likely question Killian after Rekkart, since there seems to be no love lost between those two.

If the opportunity presents itself, Ganer might go with his grand bluff again. You know, the one where he presents himself as a true Rakshasa who has stuck around because he is darkly curious about what is going on.

Also, to be perfectly honest, escape is a secondary concern to unraveling the mystery.

Gared doesn't believe Mord is guilty of cold blooded murder and considers him as much a victim as his wife and child at this point.

After Ratcliff revealed that the sewing needle would have been used to attack her killer, he would clue the group of players in that he had found it where they had fought the shadow, attempt to identify what kind of humanoids blood it would be, look for scars on all the jurors, and then question his suspects with the group at his side looking for reactions and evidence. He would sugguest revealing the needle to each suspect for a reaction if all else failed.
He would also sugguest exploring the gallows, as that's where his first vision took place.

The dwarf would want to start with the remaining NPC's first with the obviously
terrified half-orc who didn't believe that Mord was really guilty and may have been involved with some further crime beyond convicting a man he thought was guilty. If he had to pick someone further who knew of the murder he'd pick Killian, then consider the gnome as no one really seems to have talked to him so far.

Also, as to what comes next, I could definitly see Gared joining the pathfinder society with his new found companions while giving a chance to mix the group with several other players. I'd be interested in pursuing the Shattered Star AP at least so far as to look through the player's guide book for it.

Oh yeah, Shattered star would make sense for a next step, because it would be fairly reasonable to assume that Ganer would join the Pathfinder Society.

Thanks for your responses guys. I now know what will happen to you guys in the courthouse. I think you will like the results, he he.

Keep an eye on the game thread. I will post a recap of the events and then I need to prepare for the next stage of the campaign. I will need to read the ShS AP and then open a recruitment thread for an additional player or two.

I enjoyed the ending, and it's nice to have earned the level up! Would you like us to roll our hit dice or just take average?

Thanks! You can either use the PFS method which is average +1 or roll for it. However, you have to decide BEFORE you roll, he he.

I'll take average plus one. *smiles* I prefer the consistency.
Also, in buying our equipment, I was wondering if you'd allow any 3.5 equipment? Off the top of my head, I'd love to buy a healing belt for it's utility and flavor, and I'm sure they have some fancy arrows that wouldn't be bad to page through.

Heh...I think I will disallow that particular item. It is one of the (admittedly many) broken items in the 3.5 MIC. Keep in mind anything in the Ultimate Equipment book is available, however. You are in Absalom, the Jewel of the World. :)

Alright, I've taken Gared shopping and leveled him up. I bought a pearl of power at 1st level under the assumption there would be a character capable of casting Mage armor adventuring with us on our AP, if not, I might try and find something else to replace it.

Anyone interested in doing a little in between character roll playing after we escape, along the way of joining the pathfinder society?

I'd be up for that. First things though, where is the closest temple to Desna? Absalom isn't known for them.

Most of the temples are located in the Ascendant Court which is where the Starstone Cathedral is located. Since Horven is familiar with Absalom, I will say he can find where the shrine of Desna is located without any issues.

I wouldn't have a problem with in between roleplay.

Also, Ganer has been leveled up, but not equipped. Any suggestions as to what a lore oracle would find a must have?

Ganer might collect a few pathfinder Chronicles with is new found wealth and as a worshiper of Irori. Also, upon preparing to leave the pathfinders on our first journey, adventruing gear would be appropriate. I spent a lot of time on PSRD website browing through potentially useful items.
Since Ganer would be able to use one, picking up a wand of cure light wounds for out of combat healing would be incredibly useful.

Also, as an oracle wouldn't Ganer know either Cure Light Wounds or Inflict Light Wounds in addition to the other spells he knows?

I'll roll for hit points :D 1d8 ⇒ 4

I haven't picked out equipment yet, since I'm waiting until next Friday to pick up my copy of Ultimate Equipment. I chose the Weapon Training rogue talent so I could have weapon focus (rapier). However, I wanted to make my trip to a temple/shrine of Desna, before buying anything anyhow.

I was wondering, since we're going to be joining the Pathfinder Society, if we should pick a faction?

OK, while it would be fun for all of you to be a member of differing factions, I will assign you all the Grand Lodge faction. Since the different factions only come into play with faction missions assigned during official PFS scenarios, it is a moot point. If you are interested in doing such, then I would strongly recommend you join the Pathfinder Society and have fun with that!

Also I do recommend you download and read the Players Guide. It gives you a better idea of what you will be dealing with.

Yeah, I had read through that last night. I was aware that we weren't going to be doing anything faction-based. I thought it could add some flavor, but I'm all for simple :)

I think it's going to be really interesting taking three characters with a pretty brutal and terrible start of a horror adventure before running them through a more conventional adventure path. Especially with some new blood!

As far as in transitional roleplaying goes, I'd really like to take a look at how the three of us relate to each other after having staggered out of the courthouse that morning. A dwarven archer, a non-evil tiefling oracle of Irori, and a halfling merchant walking out of a haunted court-house is chockful of flavor, and probably part of a punchline.

Also, completely forgot to say this earlier but I completely understand not allowing the healing belt, Eric. Those things are kind of ridiculous. Maybe for a five thousand to ten thousand gold peice item it would be a little more sensical.

All right, Ganer's equipment is finally updated. I've learned something funny about him: I wonder if he is going to someday become a [uel=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WellIntentionedExtremist]Well Intentioned Extremist[/url]. After all, for someone who is lawful neutral, he doesn't have a single probelma about telling any number of lies for the sake of convenience. Of course, lying isn't really a crime, so it could go either way. Anyway, in this case, Ganer has bought himself a holy symbol, because he intends to pass himself off as a cleric from here on out.

Just a quick update here...

I am currently reading the Shattered Star adventures, and have nearly finished the first two adventures. I will probably open a new recruitment thread withing the next week or so to add a player (or two). Feel free to chime in on what class would be best to round your team out. Why you guys have no arcane power currently, I don't think you guys MUST have a wizard.

I do have a lot on my plate with my other PbPs so I want to take things slow for now.

@Gared: Feel free to do some RPing if you guys want. That healing belt is definitely more expensive. Best to get a wand of CLW...or just potions, he he.

@Ganer: Go for it. Lying is not necessarily a chaotic act. Interesting decision there BTW.

I have a feeling that we will do well to recruit a BSF type, Ganer would certainly appreciate the big, burly armored type that takes the hits so he doesn't have to. Though a Barbarian would be a funny choice, especially one that is CN, that way, he could argue with Horven and Gared over morality, and the barbarian and Horven over matters of society and justice.

Anyway, his decision to Masquerade as a cleric boils down to the assumption that people will be suspicious of him if they know his heritage. If they knew he's an Oracle, they could let their imaginations run wild, and presume that his spells come from an evil god, trying to corrupt him, or that he is already as evil as he looks. On the other hand, clerics get their spells as a result of their hard work and devotion, and keeping with their god's tenets, so masquerading as a cleric of Irori might help bolster his respectability, even if they know he's a tiefling. Of course, the flaw in the plan is that Irori accepts Lawful Evil clerics, and they detect as Lawful Neutral, from what I understand. So. . .

I think a Magus would be really helpful in fulfilling a little arcane casting and another front line fighter. Between Ganer and a solid Magus, we'd have a pretty good frontline which Gared should certainly be able to back up as we level. I don't think we should be completely without arcane magic, but I think a summoner, alchemist, bard or some other non-full spellcaster would fulfill that role just fine. I'd love to see a witch join the group.

Some non-traditional characters would just be interesting. It'd be fun to see someone aim for something unique like the prestige classes Noble Scion or Champion of Irori.

Heya folks! I'd love to actually do some roleplaying with the Ganer and Horven before we continue on with the new blood, but I'm not sure where to start! Any suggestions?

I posted in the gameplay thread after Eric's epilogue a while ago, so we can run with that, if you like.

Hadn't seen that Horven! Just posted a response! Feel free to have already picked Ganer up before meeting up with Gared. I'm going to take the liberty of creating an NPC or two that probably won't see much play but should flesh out my dwarf's brief backstory.

Ahh, I see that if it's inactive that the little notice with (1 new) or whatnot won't show up. I guess we'll have to post there and in here :P

Wow, thread necromancy...Just kidding, he he.

Just a quick update here...I have finished reading both of the Shattered Star AP books, and I am familiarizing myself with the Magnimar book, since you will all be ending up there eventually. I will start the recruitment thread once I wrap up another PbP I am in. It should be in about a week or so.

BTW...I will advance the time line about 2 1/2 years to 4711 AR in the spring, since the SS AP is a sequel to several of the older APs released. (It was autumn when you awoke in the courthouse.) So your RPing in Absalom should not be affected.

Sounds like a plan! Perhaps we could role play our two years of history here and there in flex time, even as we continue with recruitment and the Shattered Star AP.

Thoroughly enjoying the roleplaying and will be happy to continue, but I think I've covered all my major bases thus far! You guys have such great characters, I look forward to playing them as old friends when we make the jump to a few years from now.
Any news on when we might start up recruitment Eric?

Sorry about the the lack of posting guys. I have been reading your posts in the game thread and have really enjoyed them. RL has been slowing me down a lot it seems, but I hope to get the recruitment thread posted within a week from today.

No worries, Eric! I've enjoyed the time to develop our trio's relationship. I am excited to watch the character applications roll in though!