It does! Especially since you actually noticed you hit post 1,000 for us. Two hero points for Donkor.
[Insert explosion of celebratory fireworks here]
We've come a long way guys - congratulations. Keep it up and we might even have ourselves a story. Been great playing with you all.
Donkor: I don't understand though. How is it that I've managed to engender mistrust in my ability to roleplay PCs?
No, Hal's turn has not come up quite yet. But it's about to, right after we confirm Gandel is vanishing.*
That means you can still modify that if you choose to - but otherwise I am ready for it.
I've got you lined-up to do the "unruly daughter bit" followed by a silence spell. She's in range so no need to move, but Hal will have a move action available if he wants to reposition.
*Er, that is, unless the zillion delays and readied actions suddenly come off
No, Hal's turn has not come up quite yet. But it's about to, right after we confirm Gandel is vanishing.*
That means you can still modify that if you choose to - but otherwise I am ready for it.
I've got you lined-up to do the "unruly daughter bit" followed by a silence spell. She's in range so no need to move, but Hal will have a move action available if he wants to reposition.
Donkor: I don't understand though. How is it that I've managed to engender mistrust in my ability to roleplay PCs?
Well, don't take this wrong...I'm sorry if I left it open to misinterpretation. It's not so much that we don't trust you to roleplay the PCs, we're just terrified of the consequences when you do!
In seriousness though, the story has been excellent so far on all parts, and I'm still having a blast. Hope you're willing to run another one after this tent encounter kills us all!
P.S. I only have the core book and a couple of modules for Pathfinder. They don't seem to cover Hero Points. So I'm not sure what they do? Allow re-rolls? Auto successes?
Currently we are resolving Gandel's action - I'm just checking to make sure he's still cool with his plan to cast vanish.
Correct - it hasn't happened. Sorry for the confusion. Once Thalia blurted out her version of events we immediately went into initiative. While several people have proposed actions, they haven't been resolved yet.
The only PCs who have gone are Karek (diving mouth clamp) and Hurgah (readied action). We're currently on Gandel.
It's regrettably slow, but it's precise - probably appropriate given the huge powder keg everyone is sitting on. Well that's the theory anyway.
P.S. I only have the core book and a couple of modules for Pathfinder. They don't seem to cover Hero Points. So I'm not sure what they do? Allow re-rolls? Auto successes?
No problemo - we got you covered. Check this link for hero points!
Just scroll down the page a bit to the heading "Using Hero Points". You can do a heck of a lot with them. The tricky part is when to commit to expending them. They're so handy you wind up saving them which causes you to never use them.
Hmmm, now that I think on it, Mr. Monotony is probably the last guy you'd want to give hero points to. . .
Got it! I'll sit tight.
"Master Moonpate. I am sorry that I let you daughter become unruly. I thought the spell I had cast to calm her outbursts down was still functioning!" screams Hal.
Hal turns to the Exemplar, "I mean no disrespect by addressing you directly. The girl has not been well since the ... incident".
Hal casts silence on Thalia to atop any responses by her.
Denis,
Hal is up next - I've got this for your move but much has happened since. Still valid?
Hal will say exactly what I said in the earlier post but will NOT cast a spell.
About to walk into a thicket of spears by the guards at the tent opening, Hal stops and quickly whirls around to face the dais.
"Master Moonpate. I am sorry that I let you daughter become unruly. I thought the spell I had cast to calm her outbursts down was still functioning!" screams Hal.
Hal turns to the Exemplar, "I mean no disrespect by addressing you directly. The girl has not been well since the ... incident".
It has been quite a while, though he is too cool a guy to just disapear on us. As much as I love to GM NPC, this is a tense spot and I feel like everyone should get a turn to play with matches.
What I propose for the moment is to put him on delay to 12--, so Moon and Donkor can go.
From:
Jason - 14
Moonpate the Potentate - 12+
Donkor Sooron - 12-
to
Moonpate the Potentate - 12+
Donkor Sooron - 12-
Jason--
Moonpate, almost out of the tent, turns at the commotion, his face a deep red and eyes wide in surprise. After Hal's hasty explanation and Karek's tackle the Potentate beseeches the Examplar, one arm flung wide in dramatic consternation, the other tightly gripping his comfort mug latched to his wide belt. "Great Examplar, hold your wrath at this profane outburst from my sick daughter and let me address her wrong."
Is this still current for Moonpate? Just let me know, if so, it'll take effect now. He can get this out as a free action. So if there is more he wants to do he can add to it. For example, he can throw his arms up like Breach (er, like Breach when his turn comes up), reposition or he can ready an action to cast a spell like Hurgah, or any combination thereof.
Moonpate, almost out of the tent, turns at the commotion, his face a deep red and eyes wide in surprise. After Hal's hasty explanation and Karek's tackle the Potentate beseeches the Examplar, one arm flung wide in dramatic consternation, the other tightly gripping his comfort mug latched to his wide belt. "Great Examplar, hold your wrath at this profane outburst from my sick daughter and let me address her wrong."Is this still current for Moonpate? Just let me know, if so, it'll take effect now. He can get this out as a free action. So if there is more he wants to do he can add to it. For example, he can throw his arms up like Breach (er, like Breach when his turn comes up), reposition or he can ready an action to cast a spell like Hurgah, or any combination thereof.
I'll have to go with what was previously stated, but the Potentate will ready action his Elemental Gem (Air) for use, having dextrously grabbed it from one of his many clandestine pockets to hold in the hand that is now flung wide to beseech for calm.
He will also add to his statement: "We are not here as enemies of Osirion, nor have we defiled the traditions of hospitality."Diplomacy roll if needed:
At the first move to arrest or threaten, he will break the Elemental Gem and direct it to deal with Nigh and Kyhn (unless positions and circumstances change drastically).
Since the horde of people who have taken actions or calmly delayed taking actions has more or less invalidated Donkor's moment of shock, he'll try something else.
"Hands up! Reach for your ancestors - and buckle your knees!" orders the second.
Donkor totally does this, slamming down in his typical ungraceful fashion and trembling and hiding his face. "Oh blessed Pharasma, please protect your humble servant and the exalted one from rash actions and treachery. Let no harm come down upon us, especially the wondrous Khymrasa."
Through his prayers and during his grovel, he is attempting to mask his casting of Sanctuary. Presumably the somatic component of that is similar to a prayer for protection. Feel free to roll for me what, if anything, needs rolling.
Do you mean you want to use a standard action to attack during Hal's turn? (I.e. right now? Cause I'd still let you. . .)
Or do you mean you want to take a readied action (or delay)? If it's a readied action, let me know what the triggered moment is and I'll activate Hal when it occurs. If it's a delay, just chime back in when you want to come off it and act. But let me know Hal is delaying, so it's on the books.
Hal is delaying and waiting to see if he pulled off his bluff.
"Hands up! Reach for your ancestors - and buckle your knees!" orders the second.
Donkor totally does this, slamming down in his typical ungraceful fashion and trembling and hiding his face. "Oh blessed Pharasma, please protect your humble servant and the exalted one from rash actions and treachery. Let no harm come down upon us, especially the wondrous Khymrasa."
Through his prayers and during his grovel, he is attempting to mask his casting of Sanctuary. Presumably the somatic component of that is similar to a prayer for protection. Feel free to roll for me what, if anything, needs rolling.
Man! I’m off researching yet again. Looks like there are no official rules for concealed spellcasting. Here’s what I’ve come up with for this specific situation. I think what Donkor is attempting is quite clever as the way he has set it up he hopes his specific actions will mask the spell he has chosen. But he’s trying to fool an awful lot of high level guys at once.
First it’s going to be Donkor’s Slight of Hand check vs the Perception of ‘almost everyone’. I’m not including opposition that completely lacks line of sight such as Khymrasa or is otherwise too engaged such as the crowd. This result is then followed by Donkor’s Bluff vs. the Sense Motive or Spellcraft (whichever is higher) of anyone who beat Donkor on the first check. The first contest determines who actually notices what Donkor is doing, while the second check determines of those who notice him who appreciates what he is trying to pull. I would give Donkor a bonus of +4 if it was a Silent or Still spell, but it is neither. (It would probably be an auto success if it were both).
To make it worse, the spell requires divine focus. However, here Donkor has a hidden edge. He has the Birthmark trait, which let’s him use his birth mark as his divine focus. I give him a +4 bonus for this, but only on the second check. Anyone who studies him closely will be looking for the holy symbol and they won’t see one.
The bad news is these are not winning skills for Donkor. An untrained Slight of Hand is essentially a Dexterity check, an old nemesis of Sooron. Bluff is a bit better, but he’s up against monks! In fact, one of the best things he’s got going for him is the two dwarves who are screening his position, which makes it harder for the monks and the Sand Sage to really see him all the way in the front of the tent.
PART I:
(fails!)
(succeeds!)
(fails!)
(fails!)
---------
PART II:
[N/A]
(succeeds!)
[N/A]
[N/A]
---------
Donkor can tell he has been busted by the Sand Sage. The Sage's reaction though is a bit perplexing. He seems rather annoyed, but more like a parent is annoyed at a child who has made a mess of their meal. It's as though he can't decide if he is more disappointed by Donkor's amateurish attempt, or by the monks who have failed to spot it.
Last call for Jason to sneak in here.
(I recollect in his last post he indicated he was having difficulties with access due to his new job.)
I'll GM PC him shortly - perhaps something as cool as a delay action.
Meanwhile, in the middle of the chaos, Jason appears to follow Donkor's lead and comply with the guards' demands. He slowly begins to raise his arms and bends at the knee - but that's about as far as he gets. All the while, he keeps a watchful eye on Master Soan, suspicious that if the kill order goes out, it will come from there first.
Suddenly a dark shadow falls over the tent.
There's a huge thunderclap and the two southern tent poles instantly rip right out of the ground, sand spraying at their edges. The entire southern half of the tent is peeled back like a grape and gently draped over the top half.
Jason, Breach, Hal and Donkor are all exposed to the outdoor sun. . .
And to the massive palanquin golem that now towers over them. It appears the golem elected to make itself an entrance by folding half of the golden tent away.
Atop the golem sits a small team of soldiers, with their bows and polearms at the ready.
.
A small cyclone of eyeballs coalesce near the Sand Sage, from where they came you cannot say. Then an instant later the floating eyeballs disperse, each racing for a distant corner of what is left of the tent. They move so quickly it is impossible to keep track of them all.
In the meantime, with a reserved sigh and a knowing glance at the Exemplar, the Sand Sage begins casting a spell. One precisely articulated gesture later and his hand glows with scintillating energy. It is though, rather anticlimactic: the sage simply places his glowing hand upon his own shoulder and discharges his spell upon himself.
He says nothing.
In the meantime, with a reserved sigh and a knowing glance at the Exemplar, the Sand Sage begins casting a spell. One precisely articulated gesture later and his hand glows with scintillating energy. It is though, rather anticlimactic: the sage simply places his glowing hand upon his own shoulder and discharges his spell upon himself.
Hurgah: I don't think that triggers your readied action, but if you disagree, let me know.
The two muscled bodyguards snarl as they position themselves at the edge of the dais, placing themselves in-between Karek and Thalia and the Exemplar. They look like they want to mix it up badly, but they know their role is to defend.
Suddenly a dark shadow falls over the tent.
There's a huge thunderclap and the two southern tent poles instantly rip right out of the ground, sand spraying at their edges. The entire southern half of the tent is peeled back like a grape and gently draped over the top half.
Jason, Breach, Hal and Donkor are all exposed to the outdoor sun. . .
And to the massive palanquin golem that now towers over them. It appears the golem elected to make itself an entrance by folding half of the golden tent away.
Atop the golem sits a small team of soldiers, with their bows and polearms at the ready.
.
If possible, I'd like to spellcraft the Sand Sage's spell and see what it's all about.
If possible, I'd like to spellcraft the Sand Sage's spell and see what it's all about.
1d20+6
Moonpate will also do a Spellcraft check:
Atop the golem sits a small team of soldiers, with their bows and polearms at the ready.
Spell craft
Moonpate feels the hot breeze now wafting in and peripherally glances to the open sky, and then smiles broadly.
No, by hostile action, I mean someone making a physical attack or casting an obviously harmful spell targeted at a member of the group. Hurgah stays on delay.
I figured that was coming. . .
Those who are watching the Sand Sage and succeed on a DC 19 Spellcraft check can access the spoiler below. I think that's just Gandel though.
He cast lesser globe of invulnerability.
However, I suspect the DC provides a small clue for those who were betrayed by the dice.
Karek leans in close to Thalia. Dey hab blaces ver beeble like ye, elf witch. Aye will be glad when I dak'ey dere.
Whatever 'elf witch's' responses is, it is muffled by the dwarf's thick stubby hand.
Thalia struggles briefly, but quickly realizes the futility. She is no match for Karek. She wriggles a hand up to her necklace, as though contemplating. . . something, but she then stops herself.
Instead, Thalia goes limp, using her body language as far as she can to convey that she is an innocent victim trapped underneath a violent dwarf. Surely there is a soldier nearby who will rescue a damsel in distress.
The male Asmodean monk who was standing next to the female one, readies himself in a carefully balanced martial arts stance: knees bent, bare arms in front. As his eyes narrow, he looks ready to spring at Gandel, the halfling who is only a dozen or so feet away.
The soldiers atop the palanquin golem ready their bows, looking to turn those below into pin cushions. Since, Donkor, Hal and Breach are well covered by the door guards, the soldiers appear to be mostly aiming at Jason, the target most out in the open from their vantage point.
One of the guards shouts:
“Reach for your ancestors, or join them!”
As a bard, Gandel can’t help but cringe. This is a popular line spoken by heroes in Osirion folklore – only the soldier has totally bungled it. But that can hardly matter now.
More important is that one of the soldiers, possibly their leader, has placed one of those blasted signal horns to his lips. He hasn’t blown on it though.
We finally get to Breach! Is this still current?
"Do not resist!,Breach bellows from the entrance of the tent. Seeing no possible manner in which they will be able to turn this situation to their advantage if they actively resist, Breach continues,"They be lawful orders she be makin' and bein' that we are here to serve her interest following her orders 'll be just that." Raising his hands above his head, Breach turns and shouts to the Sand Sage," Ya might be checkin' if this area is free of any fiendish intervention, Sand Sage. I'm believin' the girl's mind might ah been touched by some less noble attendees in the Exemplar's presence.", he finishes with his eyes resting squarely on the female monk as he takes a knee.
We finally get to Breach! Is this still current?
"Do not resist!,Breach bellows from the entrance of the tent. Seeing no possible manner in which they will be able to turn this situation to their advantage if they actively resist, Breach continues,"They be lawful orders she be makin' and bein' that we are here to serve her interest following her orders 'll be just that." Raising his hands above his head, Breach turns and shouts to the Sand Sage," Ya might be checkin' if this area is free of any fiendish intervention, Sand Sage. I'm believin' the girl's mind might ah been touched by some less noble attendees in the Exemplar's presence.", he finishes with his eyes resting squarely on the female monk as he takes a knee.
Remove the taking a knee part and yes. Will need to make an escape later, lol.
Moonpate feels the hot breeze now wafting in and peripherally glances to the open sky, and then smiles broadly.
You're not 100% sure - it felt like a 2 minute walk between the Red Tent and the Golden Tent. Can't be that far.
Something specific in mind?
Breach Shattershield does his best to urge the Dune Squad to pacify the situation by raising their hands in the air. At the same time he tries to refocus the Sand Sage's attention on Vavonne Shear, identifying her as a conspirator. Unfortunately, between the shouts of the soldiers and the the cries of the now dispersing crowd he is starting to get drowned out.
I'm not sure we can drop out of initiative just yet. . .
Initiative Order
Karek Kogan - 22
Exemplar Khymrasa - 21
Hurgah the Reaver - 20- [Holding a readied action]
Gandelplot Trapspringer - 16- [Holding a readied action]
Moonpate the Potentate - 12+ [Holding a readied action]
Donkor Sooron - 12-
Palanquin golem - 11
The Sand Sage - 10+
Bodyguards - 10-
Thalia Xian'an - 9
Breach Shattershield - 4
Crowd - 1
The Delay Pile
(These persons can act at a time of their choosing but only after someone else has acted. They can't interrupt like a readied action. On the other hand, they are not restricted by what they can choose to do.)
Master Soan
Nigh-Halar (Azmodean monk)
Vavonne Shear (Azmodean monk)
Khyn (Azmodean monk)
Sylaxer (Azmodean monk)
Soldiers (on the ground)
Palanquin soldiers
Halstadt Morgrym
Jason
Karek will hold his ground, but tighten his grip on Thalia. He will put her in a pin, continuing to keep her from speech if possible, but take no move or otherwise hostile action. All of his rage is reserved for Thalia!* As best he can given his load, he will bow in deference to the Exemplar.
*But he is not raging. And I'm sure he could make some room if somebody wanted some of his rage. 'Specially those prettyboys up front.
Say, I bet Thalia would make a fine weapon!
The Exemplar watches the huge dwarf crush the defenseless half-elf into a pretzel - right in front of her throne - her throne!
She hears the dwarf in the back try to shout an explanation that the half-elf is actually the sick daughter of the Potentate, the poor man.
She sees some of the strange delegation ignoring her guards' demands that they surrender - others are cooperating.
She watches as her soldiers wreck her Golden Tent, possibly beyond repair.
She has had enough.
"Ugh! That is it!"
"Sand Sage! Soan! I want them all in the stockade. Her too! Then figure out what the hell just happened here and find me - you know where."
At that she moves behind the throne. For a split-second you see a ripple in the tent canvass in the north wall. Perhaps there is a hidden back door there, or perhaps she just lifted the bottom of the tent wall and unceremoniously rolled under it. Either way, you are pretty sure she has just exited the scene.
OOC:
Hurgah, Gandel and Moon - at this point, any of you three can cancel your readied actions in favor of a new set of actions if you wish. Or you can keep them in place.
Assuming the readied actions remain in force, (and that none of the delays spring into action) next up is Donkor.
I'm not sure yet, but given the Exemplar's orders, I am leaning towards cutting to the chase, as opposed to stringing this out. It looks like the party can either:
(a) Go quietly to the stockade and work from there. (Though there's a lot of assumptions there.)
(b) Seize the first strike while you still can. (Though there's an equal number of assumptions there too.)
(c) Stand in place and wait for the opposition to inevitably attack. OR
(d) Whatever else people can think of that the GM has overlooked.
We've got a bit of a Mexican stand-off here. No doubt the party is casting meaningful glances to one another, and Breach has openly communicated his advice for all to hear. At this point, I think you guys can coordinate and make a decision if you want.
But in the meantime, I'll push the initiative along. Maybe someone will inadvertently make the decision for us all. . .
[Keanu]"What do you do? What do you do?[/Keanu]
"Master Sage, we are all willing to come along peacefully and explain the erratic behavior of our companion. We are here to help, certainly not to cause trouble!"
"Sand Sage! Soan! I want them all in the stockade. Her too! Then figure out what the hell just happened here and find me - you know where."
Moonpate gulps and hopes that his master and the gen will be proud of the bravery he will try to display. In as forceful of a voice that he can muster, the Potentate looks to live up to the pet name bestowed upon him long ago by a teasing djinn.
"I will NOT be taken by Chelaxian devils and enemies of the Ruby Prince!"Moonpate takes the delicate, rune-etched crystal given to him by his master the last time they met and quickly smashes it against his hard head, releasing a shower of sparkling motes that rapidly coalesces into a swirling cloud towering above the surrounding mortals. Large blue eyes that spark like angry flares spin around in the amorphous body, taking in the surroundings like a tornado poised to deliver its message of wrath and ruin.
"Great lord of the sky and wind, PROTECT us from these fiendish mortals!"