The Seer's Journey - DM Downrightamazed

Game Master downrightamazed

So they COULD say:
"Whosoever shall speak the name 'Hurin', so shall the axes power show, and his clothing dissolve for the amusement of the gods. So let it be."

Heh, well we can leave it at the axes are named lighting storm and thunderstorm and that the runes a warnings to the enemies of the dwarves and protections for the axes themselves woven into the magic of the dwarven cleric forge masters that created them in Torag the creators name.

LOL! Justahl is in rare form tonight. :-D

DRA were both the axes menacing or was one menacing and one threatening?

Astar's two best skill rolls so far have been in things he doesn't even have ranks in. Fortune favors the bold. (Though I'll really have to grab some sense motive eventually.)

I thought we took a wolfguard alive as well? Or was it just crazy lenny?

I know I used a ton of sleep arrows in that fight. Lol

"Without me the boy will die!" *thunk* *snore*

Thanks for pointing out we need you, sleep arrow in the chest. Presto instant prisoner. :)

Man Hurin and Jorzan are going to be able to play off one another for days in real time which is like a rear IRL ;).

It's very interesting to me how much faith Jorzan has in magic despite what it's done to him in the past, how it was used to mold and torture him when he was young. He often seems to regard it as his greatest ally, sometimes trusting it above all else and reaching for it as a first solution to a given problem, even though he's a phenomenally skilled rogue and poisoner.

Hmmm...

So they COULD say:

"Whosoever shall speak the name 'Hurin', so shall the axes power show, and his clothing dissolve for the amusement of the gods. So let it be."

Would that make them Twin Axes of Dwarf Nudening?

Indeed it would.

Well, somebody's gotta play good cop.

It's very interesting to me how much faith Jorzan has in magic despite what it's done to him in the past, how it was used to mold and torture him when he was young. He often seems to regard it as his greatest ally, sometimes trusting it above all else and reaching for it as a first solution to a given problem, even though he's a phenomenally skilled rogue and poisoner.

Hmmm...

Well, yes, it Is interesting (as well as being uncertain how much of that is Jorzan and how much his Player...but I'm sure we're all aware of that divide...ahem)

But from what I feel would be Jorzan's point of view, yes, magic is very important to him. I wouldn't use the term 'faith in', however, or even 'greatest ally', but more the idea that as it has been an integral part of his life, and who he now is, it's just something that is now a natural part of him, life breathing. It's all just a part of what he knows, what he is able to do. He has seen first hand, many, many times, the Power of magic, so he has learned to not even consciously question that power any more. Like the elephant who does not even try to break the rope around it's ankle because it grew to learn that the chain around it when it was young was unbreakable. Magic has a (so far at least) unbreakable hold over the young rogue.

As well, as happens to many in similar situations, Jorzan has unconsciously manifested many of the same techniques and mannerisms of his abusers. Especially in a situation like this, which can so easily bring back memories of his own torment, he unconsciously falls into the patterns that he knows. Only difference being now he's the one in a position of power. Perhaps if someone pointed out to him how he was behaving he could change? (I'm certainly not suggesting any one do so though. And besides, it would have to be someone who knew fully of his past. And at this point, the one who knows the most of it is Van-Haera, and even she doesn't know any details. Or perhaps Cassandra, with her special abilities might know more or what he's been through, perhaps that's part of why they have the special bond that they do. But all that is moot as neither of them are here right now, are they)

So yes, Jorzan has many skills, poisoning being among them, and perhaps he'll have an oppourtinity to use them in game at some point (which I would find very interesting I think). But given how I understand poison to be looked at in general in society (or DRA's world), I think he's unlikely to use such techniques in front of a Paladine.

Especially with a Paladin who has Neutralize Poison as a Mercy of his Lay on Hands.

"I poison him!"
"I neutralize your poison!"
"I poison him again!"
"I neutralize your poison again!"
"I double poison him!"
"I Neutralize twice!"
...

DRA were both the axes menacing or was one menacing and one threatening?

Thunder Stormaxe: +1 Adamantine Thundering Menacing Battleaxe

From this post: http://paizo.com/campaigns/TheSeersJourneyDMDownrightamazed/gameplay&pa ge=56#2756

@Justahl: that would be amazing.

@Jorzan: some levels in sorcerer might be a nice way to back up this part of Jorzan's story, some kind of shadow bloodline, manifesting itself at level 10 after all this exposure to Shadow and magic artifacts and everything else...just an idea.

Hahahahahaha!

After his last few performances, I'm now waiting for the CD,

'The Paladine's Punchlines!'

"Had me in stitches! I almost died laughing!"- Kevin, currently unemployed

"A laugh a minute, you'll be praying to Iomeade for the jokes to stop!"-Cptn Ian Harrix, Izmir

"You've never seen funny till you've an Aasimar doing Stand-up!-M.J. Mayhan, The Stormfare Review"

@Jorzan: some levels in sorcerer might be a nice way to back up this part of Jorzan's story, some kind of shadow bloodline, manifesting itself at level 10 after all this exposure to Shadow and magic artifacts and everything else...just an idea.

Lol, funny you should mention that.... ; )

(Full story at 6...or should I say 10. : )

Dijkstra and the Dwarf could spend all day playing mind games with him if they wanted to, Jorzan had gotten the full truth out of the worm in seconds. Regardless what they knew, or thought they knew of interrogation, or torture techniques, Jorzan had spent most of his life living it.

Especially right after the dwarf rolled a natural 20!

Jorzan is not privy to the results of dice rolls, sir. ; )

Hurin: "I rolled a natural 20!"
Jorzan: "Huh??"

Yeah but with your sense motive you would have knOwn a grand slam when you saw it.

Possibly, but I think it all sorta happened at once, and it really doesn't seem like he has much more to tell us. Anyway, I trust DRA to work it all out to everyone's satisfaction

Sure ;), with your perception roll it would be impossible not to.

Thank you! Thank you! I'll be here all night!

Try the veal!

Heh that's why the guy talked! Naked dwarf holding a shocker axe in one hand a thundering one in the other with a flaming bow on his back! All we needed was a bard playing the song sex dwarf and a leather gimp mask.

Yeesh! whatever disease Lenny has seems quite bad... I'm starting to regret taking him alive. :(

Lol Hurin!

This disease is another crossover point between the IRL games and PbPs, if that kind of thing interests you.

Waiting on inter-party responses right now, unless someone wants to keep poking Lenny while we wait to hear from Justahl and Gray, etc.

WEll I only know about it because of whats going on in the thread, Min doesn't have a clue at all. :) No meta-gaming here Boss only watching as even a bad guy doesn't deserve that nasty of a sickness. >.<;

anyone want to help me pick a feat for Grey? I kind of want to avoid meta magic stuff but im really open to anything.

Hell, i might even post Dantoor's sheet he needs a feat to pick as well lol

I'll take a peek. And Mai seems to be really good at that kind of thing.

Some quick suggestion:
-*Greater Mercy* (Merciful Healers can use feats that apply to a paladin's Mercy ability)
-*Extra Mercy*
-Quickened Channeling
-Combat Casting

And you still need a 3rd level cleric spell right?

I looked....but honestly...I've never done a healer so I'm not sure...I saw some interesting feats...but you actually have them all...I dis see this feat but your not high enough level to do it.

There's another..its not great...but it works....

quick channel is nice, i use it with Dantoor. so i can heal and attack at the same time. that might work out for Grey. 2 channels in the same actions for the cost of 3. really tho 10d6 heals thats pretty good for emergencies. I surprised I looked over it.

Channel revival is. OK at best, I can just cast the spell tho =p

@Jorzan: I don't see where It says I can use the Mercy ability stuff. Don't I need Lay on Hands? Does that work for my channels then?

Combat casting is something I thought of but Im not sure if its worth a feat.

I just thought channeled revival was cool, not as much as an optimization choice.
And 10d6 heals is nice.
Jorzan is talking about this.

Merciful Healing (Su): At 3rd level, a merciful healer can channel positive energy to relieve one or more harmful conditions. The merciful healer chooses one of the following harmful conditions at 3rd level: fatigued, shaken, or sickened. When the merciful healer channels energy she can remove the chosen condition from one living creature that she heals within her channel energy burst. At 6th level, she can choose another condition. It can be one of those she didn't choose at 3rd level, or one of the following conditions: dazed, diseased, or staggered. She can remove the selected condition or the one she chose at 3rd level from up to two creatures within her channel energy burst. She gains another condition at 9th level, and can choose an above condition or one of the following conditions: cursed, exhausted, frightened, nauseated, or poisoned. She can remove that condition, or a condition she previously chose, from one or two creatures within the burst. Finally, at 12th level, she can choose a lower-level condition or one of the following conditions: blinded, deafened, paralyzed, or stunned. She can remove that condition or one she previously chose from one, two, or three creatures within her channel energy burst. Feats and effects that affect a paladin's mercy also affect this ability.

Bolded relevant text.

I'm in melee all the time and I don't plan on taking combat casting.

And actually looks like you already had quick channel Gray. And if you want to post Dantoor's sheet I'd love to see it.

ughh yea im half sleep, i do have quick channel :D

sorry i've been battling a migraine most of the day.

ill look into the mercy feats and such when im feeling better.

ill put up dantoor's stuff up tonight, i just dont if i want to make a full profile for it or a just to do the cliff notes in a post.

Ya you could always just copy and past here in a spoiler or something?

For your migrane, first make sure you are breathing long and deeply. Lack of oxygen is one of the main causes that can bring them on.

If you feel the pain more in one side than the other, try massaging the opposite hand, in the meaty part between thumb and forefinger. Press around and find the part that hurts the most, and then press on that as hard and long as you can. You should feel results in your head almost right away. Explore around and see what feels the best.

=Shiatsu : )

Hmmm not sure how I missed that you have quick channeling....

@Jorzan: Did you seem my PM I sent you? Was wondering what you thought.

And here is Dantoor.. try to help me find one feat.

i have the same concerns about combat casting and warrior priest feats.
not sure if its worth a feat slot.

Migraine is gone, will be looking into the mercy stuff shortly.

did not add the skills to much work

he only has about 4 skills worth a damn

k:history,religion
prof: soldier
and preception

Tomorrow morning I head to GenCon, so posting after tonight is going to be spotty or nonexistent for a few days. Fair warning.

@DRA: yea, i figured you wont be posting until like monday or tuesday

For Dantoor you could take furious focus to negate the negatives to attack on your first attack which as a 3/4 bab class isn't bad at all.

Or you could take cleave and then cleaving finish, but it might not be worth it....

i have cleave on my sword and i have the ability to use combat feats i meet the pereqs for, ALMOST at will.

but yea i had furious focus is nice. pretty helpful when my bab is naturally low. so that's on the list! i had the feat on Dantoor before i switched to the crusader archetype so maybe i will bring it back.

I see we are a late night bunch.

Hurin, I'm having a little trouble understanding some of the Dwarf's reactions to Jorzan, especially as Hurin seems to be fairly perceptive in other areas. 'Growls' when referring to speech is an indication of how someone is speaking. Jorzan is not standing there growling like an animal. I thought that would have been pretty clear.

And while I realize Hurin might not know this, Jorzan's not 'putting on any theatrics', he's genuinely angry and upset.

Finally though, and this is one of the things that confuses me the most, why does Hurin keep thinking or referring to Jorzan as threatening to kill the prisoner? Unless you're reading something different than I am, Jorzan has never once threatened to kill Lenny. So far anyway. The most he did was dangle the possibility of life, ie a cure or getting out of the prison, to him. And then alude that Lenny might not have a long lifespan if left in the jailer's care, or to suffer from his own disease, which are simply facts that Lenny is likely well aware of.

I realize all of this is Meta-Gamey, as Jorzan has no inkling of Hurin's thoughts, and vice-versa, but I guess I'm just curious as to what is making Hurin tick here, and where his erroneous thoughts and assumptions are coming from, or if they're coming from somewhere else?

I'm also curious how Hurin knows that Nasmarra has healing abilities? She never said such in character, and Hurin wouldn't know anything about her other than what she said. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure no one else mentioned her abilities either.

Blast, lost my post and it's getting late.

Long story short, I think Hurin's quite justified in his attitude towards Jorzan, given what he knows of him. He has flipped out and tried to kill a prisoner before, which is no doubt colouring Hurin's perceptions, and he doesn't have a subtle interrogation style. Lenny certainly thinks his life's on the line, and Jorzan's done nothing to disabuse him of the notion. "Growling like an animal" may be a slight exaggeration, but I think the basic sentiment is an accurate conveyance of Hurin's attitude, and that attitude is perfectly justifiable.

It's worth remembering that although Jorzan's actions may be justifiable from an in-character perspective, they will colour others' perceptions of him. It's to be expected this will lead to people telling him to tone things down if they feel they're justified in doing so.

As to Nasmarra, from memory, I believe she did say something about having both arcane and divine abilities, which implicitly includes healing.

Realizing that the two newcomers quite likely did not know that all the tapestries had been destroyed, Jorzan, allowing the shadows to build around him, steps forward and growls out "Forget the tapestries, they're destroyed. If you want to live,we need to know another way to get into that prison dimension. As well, tell us who those four prisoners were and why Ormir had them imprisoned in those gems. And while you're at it, you can let us know about any of Ormir's other treasure stashes. Speak true and you may have a chance to live. You know kind of long, lingering and painful death you face if we decide to leave you to the Jailer's tender mercies. Now speak!"

From DRA after my natural 20 for diplomacy, because the group washaving a conversation with Lenny and he was speaking freely, before Jorzan begins to get seriously intimidating:
Lenny jerks back in his chair as Jorzan lunges forward. The alchemist is obviously terrifed; he pisses himself before the rogue's snarling visage.

The jailer returns with a pitcher of water and some cups. He makes no effort to hide his smile at Crazy Lenny's pathetic condition, and nods approvingly at Jorzan's threatening stance towards the alchemist.

Jorzans next move immediately after.
Disgusted and wanting nothing more than to be away from the sniveling creature, Jorzan only has one more thing to ask. Leaning in as close as he dares, in voice calm yet as cold as death, he says "Well, I have just one last question then Lenny, where do we find Keshla? We'll be sure to give her your warm greetings when we do find her, and kill her."

Then Justal asks, because he is also conversational.
Then something Lenny said penetrated.
"'Rescued Kevin from Everywhen?' What on earth are you talking about Lenny?"

Then Jorzan before Lenny can answer:
Ignoring the question of whether to heal him at the moment or not, Jorzan steps in to question the alchemist again, being very careful not to go anywhere near the pustules. The images conjured the man's words about Kevin conjured in his head make Jorzan equal parts furious and horrified and it is clear he is barely containing his rage. Gritting his teeth as he speaks he growls.

Also first meeting with Jorzan, Hurin is threatened after he is hanging out with the Paladin and the Dragon Lin. Then Jorzan goes to kill the old man prisoner, plus you have Jorzan manifest shadows around you as you described several times when Jorzan is getting threatening.

Jorzan has been silent and avoiding of Hurin and Jorzan has made it a point to ignore, avoid, or dismiss what the dwarf has to say etc. which comes across in the story like a stormy teenager.

Kelne was being kind of stand back and ominous while Jorzan is lunging and threatening and growling "barely containing his rage" etc.

Anyway that is why Hurin is reacting to Jorzan the way he is.

And yes Kelne is right the dwarf had knowledge of what skills she had. He also got details about what the others skills were.

What I find interesting about Jorzan is how intense he is being despite knowing that Lenny is giving the information, is speaking the truth, and it looks like he might even be a little less than first degree in what happened with Kevin, yet Jorzan still is so heavy handed.

I read back to the post where Jorzan explains his plan, but I think Hurin is reacting honestly to what he is seeing and based on his interactions with the group.

Yes, Kelne and Hurin the fighters are both similar in their abilities, perceptions and mind sets, which makes it clear why they would have similar notions about Jorzan and his actions and motivations.

I am aware Kelne that perception about Jorzan's in-character actions and motivations would not always be discernible to other characters, which is why I said as much in my previous post, and is why this particular conversation is being held in the OOC.

Thank you for going to the effort of reposting Jorzan's and others pevious posts Hurin, but your efforts only seem to prove my point. Nowhere in anything you posted above does Jorzan mention or threaten to kill Lenny, which is why I was wondering why Hurin thinks to himself: "What the hell is wrong with this kid? Tell me what I want to know or I'll kill you now you told me what I want to know so I am going to kill you.". The only person Jorzan does threaten or mention to kill is Keshla, a being who from Lenny's words and Jorzan's read on him, is someone Lenny would be very happy to have be dead.

Lenny is terrified of Jorzan because, as opposed to Hurin's using diplomacy, Jorzan used intimidation, which is what the intimidation skill does after all:
You can use this skill to frighten your opponents or to get them to act in a way that benefits you. This skill includes verbal threats and displays of prowess.

That's pretty clear, right?

Growling is indeed a sound made by animals, but to use the transitive verb growl when referring to speech, merely means "to utter angrily" or "to say something in an angry way". Well, at least according to Merriam-Webster anyway. This also seems to be in line with one using the Intimidation skill, but perhaps this is just my interpretation.

Having been the one to suggest the interrogation in the first place, Jorzan obviously has a vested interest in how it turns out and what information is gleaned from it. He began participating in the interrogation because he felt that Hurin was taking it in a direction that was unimportant and irrelevant. He's using intimidation techniques partly because that is what he knows, and partly because he genuinely is angry and really does not have any concern whether Lenny lives or dies. He just wants to get whatever useful information he can out of him.

Jorzan has been silent towards and avoiding Hurin because just a few hours ago the stranger Dwarf smashed him unconscious and stripped him virtually naked and confiscated all his belongings in front of a crowd of people. People whom Jorzan knows well for some time now, which was obviously quite embarrassing to the proud young man. While, especially after his conversation with Van-Haera, there may be parts of him that understand that the Dwarf did what he felt he had to to save the old man, there are many other influences on him which still have him being very angry over the whole thing. Plus, Jorzan is still a teenager, and one with a traumatic past to boot(no pun intended), and so he is still not fully developed emotionally. Which is why I have had Jorzan reacting thus far to Hurin as he has.

Not wanting to rely on memory, I went back and had a peek and Nasmarra (nor anyone else for that matter) does not at any point indicate in Hurin's presence (or at all, actually) anything about her healing abilities. Regardless, it's not that important, I was, as I said, just curious how he knew it. Keeping player and character knowledge separate can be tricky sometimes and we all slip up on occasion.

As for Jorzan asking a question before Lenny can answer the previous one, unfortunately this has happened several times now, with several people having asked questions before previous ones could be answered. It seems likely that, confused, scared, diseased and bombarded with questions by Jorzan and the others as he has been that Lenny may not have even heard all the individual questions. But what would be up to DRA of course.

Anyway, I think we can call this particular discussion quits, as my whole point with it was, as I stated, to try and understand what makes Hurin tick, and I think I've got enough information to determine that now. If there's any desire to continue this discussion though, I'm happy to do so, but perhaps it would be best to move it to a PM, so that it's not distracting too much from the fun of the game or anything. As he seems inclined to do so, Kelne would of course be welcome to join in on the discussion as well.

I guess Belsarious is still in the library? I thought he came out into the quad... Lol

I thought he was in the Library as well, researching...but apparently he's with us in the prison, talking in Jorzan's ear? He sure gets around that wily Elf! ; )

Not purposefully ignoring your posts Bel, just a little confused as to exactly what's going on with Belsarious' whereabouts and actions. Because if Belsarious was in the Library, and wasn't in the Quad, how did he know where we all were going? But if he was in the Quad, wouldn't he have heard Lin ask him about the note and artifact that can lead to one of the Abominations?

All that being said, Jorzan will definitely appreciate finding out more info about the Ley Lines.

A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by employing the words "like" or "as" and should in context not be taken literally. Jorzan is quick as a fox, sharp as a tack, and was growling like an animal. You did get it was a figure of speech right?

I just put the quoted sections there to help answer your questions.

Yup! Perfectly understanding everything you're sending out!

On with the show.