The Pact Stone Pyramid (Inactive)

Game Master Pact Stone GM

I don't suppose any of the magic-users could make an actual barrier behind us, to prevent unwanted intrusions? You know, desert wizards, devil-worshipping monks, evoker-assassins?

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Wow! Two immediate volunteers to be in front! This pyramid needs a better rep.

. . . "I'll be watchin' our backs, don'tcha be for worryin'. I got this.". . .

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(Or I misunderstood and Breach has volunteered for Moonpate's suggestion of remaining behind as the rear-guard guarding the entrance way.)

You don't actually think I'm dumb enough to follow you in there do you? I've already been in one of those pyramids, thank you very much - enough for one lifetime.

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I will pursue the interlopers until they are dead. Then I will hunt their pathetic souls through the lower planes. There is no escape from the vengeance of the God-Fiend - not even in the very heart of Ahn'Sehlota itself.

Got a few minutes here, Hal would like to be in the middle of the pack preferably close enough to reach everyone with a Channel Energy.

Got a few minutes here, Hal would like to be in the middle of the pack preferably close enough to reach everyone with a Channel Energy.

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She can go wherever you ultimately want her though.

Default Marching Order of the Split Squad:
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KK GT
XX XX
HM MS
XX XX
BS HR

Goukan? Donkor? Moonpate? Xerissa?

This isn't set in stone, so feel free to shake it up.

It also assumes everyone wants the party in a tight rank, which wasn't the case for the camel train, if I recall, so it need not be here. It does have the advantage of simplicity though.

Xerissa will take one of those spots at the back. Like in-between HM and BS. Heh, don't believe what BS tells you.

I think Beetle is hinting we're kinda packed together for an area effect. Is the idea that KK and GT will go on ahead and scout for traps?

[bigger]Marching Order for the Squad?

Probably should stick Pate towards the rear, especially if Hurgah is going to be the rear guard.

Yes, Hal would prefer Mithril Scarab next to him so that he may fulfill his promise to protect her. The marching order of course will take effect once the investigation of the mound is complete...

Well, what are people doing with their new level?

I, for one, am taking Spell Sunder.

I'm thinking just another level as a Conjurer, get the Dimensional Steps power. Though, I am open to suggestions.

Hal does not have an archtype but his new Archon Domain ability will inhibit foes nicely. A new 3rd and 4th level spell slot will be amazing (assuming we get a chance to rest). I will be putting my ability increase into Charisma.

Default Marching Order of the Dune Squad:
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KK GT
DS GU
HM MS
XA MP
BS HR

Above is my updated version. Naturally if Moonpate is at the rear he will want to be adjacent to his bodyguard Hurgah (the two have their own private buddy cop moving going on).

And it looks like by default Donkor is stuck babysitting Ghukan in the second rank, which might be fair, he's the one who brought him in.

Wow! A party of 10. Looks pretty unstoppable.

. . . I will be putting my ability increase into Charisma.

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Halstadt Morgrym wrote:

. . . I will be putting my ability increase into Charisma.

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Here's to patience and odd numbered ability scores! Well done!

I have been looking forward to that increase for quite some time! :o

Karek, ever the skeptic, reaches out to confirm the existence of this granite wall. After giving it a good tap with his knuckles, Karek nods grimly, and hastens to his spot at the front of the line. He's not the type to let his "commanding officer" walk into danger alone, even if they don't speak the same language.

He won't let him walk into danger alone. He will, however, let him walk into danger *first*. Karek is fine switching places in the order with the great Ghukan.

Clearly, Bunky makes the party's total eleven. It's destiny.

Our GM's totally got a thing about number mysticism. If he's at it, we should totally watch out for this.

He won't let him walk into danger alone. He will, however, let him walk into danger *first*. Karek is fine switching places in the order with the great Ghukan.

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And just so there's no confusion, we're discussing a default marching order which still has yet to be used. Right now, the PCs are where ever their player or the GM last said they were.

Very well. Karek will take his place at the front of the line.

Gonna be away for next week.

What happens does someone get put in charge of my character for me? Can Donkor do it? Does she freeze or does the GM roll for her?

Keep her alive guys! I'm finally starting to understand what the heck is going on.

The tradition on these boards seems to be a "GM PC" where I would run Xerissa. I'll do that here, but for home games I prefer the other players do so. I don't like taking the blame when you come back to find your PC corpsified.

Also, you are certainly permitted/encouraged to give instructions as to your PC's goals, preferences or future actions etc.

Thanks for the heads up on the Discussion Thread, Pact. My dot vanished so I didn't even realize y'all have been posting in here.

Order sounds good to me.

Xerissa will take one of those spots at the back. Like in-between HM and BS. Heh, don't believe what BS tells you.

lol! Probably good advice. :)

All good!

A quick continuity note: I'm not sure it matters, but if I have it right, the Dune Squad probably does not actually know that Anyo died. His death was in a cut scene which was technically not witnessed. Though it is quite possible the Scarab learned of it - she had developed a lot of contacts at the dig site and may have passed this along.

That works for me. Especially since I don't even know who Anyo is. :P

That works for me. Especially since I don't even know who Anyo is. :P

Anyo was a great NPC who met a spectacular end care of Gandel's sabotage of the dig site crane. It was brilliant! I pasted the cut scene below, but you can look for Anyo's earlier posts to understand why he was so memorable and his demise so apropos.

[Cut Scene]
Now hooked-up to the great crane overlooking the pit, the Build Beast slowly advances. With the crack of a whip, the powerful creature picks up speed in earnest, hauling the thick ropes as it strides away. The resulting force is controlled and directed around a pair of carefully lubricated metal wheels, causing the winch platform at the bottom of the pit to rise in a graceful fluid motion. At precisely the mid-point of its elevation – exactly at the point were the platform is level with the very tip of the mysterious sand-covered pyramid. . .

“Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing”. The central cord flies completely free from the master pulley. The winch gives way to nothingness and the platform is in total free-fall. It crashes towards the bottom of the pit, screaming towards terminal velocity.
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The Exemplar Khymrasa screams in horror, that is until the magic that protects her suddenly kicks in. She then begins to slowly descend, as though levitating softly. She is not calm, however; her eyes seethe with anger. Her head lashes from side to side as well as up and down as she scans the pit for someone to direct her rage upon.

Looks like it might be a feather fall.

Whatever her magic is, it does not extend to the two well-oiled bodyguards who travelled with her.

Bodyguard #1: 10d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 4, 2, 1, 3, 4, 1, 4) = 30

Bodyguard #2: 10d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 3, 6, 2, 1, 5, 6, 2) = 31

Their bodies crumple as they hit, their internal skeletons unable to absorb that much force without shattering like glass.

Anyo the Testamentarian: 10d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 3, 5, 6, 2, 4) = 34

The loudest scream belongs to Anyo the Testementarian. It’s cut short as he too hits the ground with a sickening squelch.

There are also four soldiers and two more administrators left airborne with outstanding appointments with the ground.

Consider them deceased.

Finally, when the platform lands, it crushes an unlucky torchbearers who froze in horror at the sight of the accident.

And what of the sharply attired druidess, Thalia. . .? Please do not all express your concerns at the same time.

Thanks Phrip!

Anyo was an Osirion scribe or a clerk working for the Exemplar. He had the misfortunate of being rather rude and haughty to the Dune Squad. Back when the Dune Squad was first attempting infiltrate the dig site, they spent some time with Anyo in a red reception tent.

For some reason, PCs often hate being disrespected far more than being physically assaulted. Perhaps hit points are more easily healed than pride.

Anyo disrespected us? I'll have to go back and re-read that part. I rather liked him.

Hey Beetle, I just realized I snagged the 4,000th post! Does that grant me any shiny trinkets?

Well, Anyo certainly didn't think much of our occupation (obvious adventurers) or our strange habits (like carrying tons of weapons or making impromptu bathroom trips or being a dwarf with 5 charisma - maybe that last one was just me). And it really annoyed him that we really didn't know the customs. But my impression of him was nice enough. I certainly wouldn't have wished his fate on him.

Hey Beetle, I just realized I snagged the 4,000th post! Does that grant me any shiny trinkets?

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At post 3,000 it was declared that the next action points would be awarded for post 5,000. Keep on truckin!

Congrats to you - and all of us - for keeping this game alive to see 4,000.

I certainly wouldn't have wished his fate on him.

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Though it is groovy to live on in name as a temp effect from one of Moonpate's trash scrolls. [/sarcasm]

It must be even more insulting that we can't seem to agree on the organization of letters in the middle of his name.

Vexing beyond belief.

4,000 is nothing, let's shoot for 10,000 plus!

Oh Ayon we knew ye so little...

There's some funky art for this particular encounter now on the photo site. But make sure you go by the text descriptions, rather than the artistic rendering, if you note any inconsistency.

I feel like there's an 800-pound gorilla joke I'm missing out on here. . .

My apologies for being slow - the crazy popped up on me. I'll be back on this by the weekend.

(I hate having a sudden slow-down in mid-combat - that's the opposite of what we're trying to achieve. Next week will be better.)

No worries, I have not been able to update the PBP I am running in 10 days!

Hey are we allowed to post and leave comments on the photos? Or is that a GM only thing? I really liked the girallon one!

I can't find the girallon pic but I totally freaking love the Breach and Karek pics! Those are some big bad looking dwarfs right there, bay-bee!

I just love dwarves. They're my favorite race.

Hey are we allowed to post and leave comments on the photos? Or is that a GM only thing? I really liked the girallon one!

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I can't find the girallon pic but I totally freaking love the Breach and Karek pics! Those are some big bad looking dwarfs right there, bay-bee!

I just love dwarves. They're my favorite race.

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Yeah that Karek pic is really something. He does look a bit like a guy who does 50 points of damage a round with a full attack pretty reliably. (Props to the artist!)

I'd like to see how you intend to get by without my leadership now!

Probably by freaking out and dying.

Note to self: when adventuring always bring weasel. Or summon dire weasel or something.

On the next episode of basilisk ER. . .

Hurgah the orderly retrieves a series of implements for nurse Karek who begins the delicate procedure. Fortunately, the breaker barbarian is known for his fine motor skills.

However, the anaesthetist, Dr. Hal is becoming increasingly concerned with the basilisk's low oxygen saturation rate. He's going to code! Beeeeeeeeeep!

He needs a CLW stat!

Stay tuned for after the commercial break when they perform a gastrectomy on an invisible stalker.

Just so you know, I'm having visions of the group re-enacting the scene from The Empire Strikes Back where Han saves Luke from freezing to death by cutting open the tauntaun's belly and shoving Luke into the warm innards...

That would have been awesome. A size small halfling would fit inside a basilisk too!