This is a non-Campaign to Test Stuff

Game Master Tacticslion

I need to digest so gimme a bit before I post.

Wait a minute - opening the door requires some kind of sacrifice? It can't be disable deviced open?

BTW I'm not into sacrificing anything. Blood sacrifice is bad! Ebul!

Which reminds me, sigh I'm also incorporeal. Can't disable device when you're a ghosty heh.

Though being a ghosty has its perks ^^

Hmm how to get past a door:

Disintegrate the door.
Whack it with an adamantine weapon till it breaks.
Teleport across the door.
Knock the door using the knock spell.
Use Disable device on the door.

Technically I don't know there's something that needs doing at the door in the first place ^^

Sorry. I'm a little rambly.

I believe it has been clarified (and I've been working under the active presumption) that Usawoti more or less intentionally shares everything with you. That's why I rarely use spoilers.

Also, you've found the stone devices surprisingly... solid... to your touch. Almost as if an incorporeal creature can interact with them via the ghost touch (or similar) property in most cases.

In terms of whether or not one can Dis.Dev. it, seems more like a complex skill check, to me, with Dis.Dev. and UMD in conjunction. If it works like that (which, you know, you guys aren't certain of... without knowledge checks of some kind or another).

Feel free to ask for more clarification!

We had a tiff so I'm not assuming anything :)

But yeah let me think...

We had a tiff so I'm not assuming anything :)

But yeah let me think...

I don't know that killing a sentient being so you can have it's power is a 'tiff' but I'm assuming we still have our mental connection. If not Usawoti would have explained everything to Inarus.

So what if the mouse 'wants us' to smash it against an alter?

Speaking of the mouse where is it?

I would think he could block me out if he wanted to – so I cannot assume I know everything. Like you know blocking out thoughts and feelings?

Hey, I’d only do a sacrifice if the sacrifice in question asks for it…free will over all.

ok, so do you remember where the mouse is?

Or what do we want to use as a sacrifice? Or do we ignore the sisters? Headed to work, so I'll be back in a couple...

We are not sacrificing anything! Let's go DD/UMD the door first.

But that's all OOC. I don't know anything in game.

Weird.

>.>

Oh wait. I know things? If you say you shared with me, then it's enough to take action. You can retcon sharing later.

Sorry. If I sound a little flippant, it actually reflects my mood for the day. I'm not sure what could have caused it, to be honest...

It might have to do with a certain barbarian changing direction on me suddenly...

Sorry. If I sound a little flippant, it actually reflects my mood for the day. I'm not sure what could have caused it, to be honest...

It might have to do with a certain barbarian changing direction on me suddenly...

Ok I thought we still had a 'mind link'

also the Barbarian didn't change direction. He listed where he was going and went there on the map.

I can't see roll20 on phone you nub!

I... can't remember my password.

>.>

Sorry. If I sound a little flippant, it actually reflects my mood for the day. I'm not sure what could have caused it, to be honest...

It might have to do with a certain barbarian changing direction on me suddenly...

Ok I thought we still had a 'mind link'

You do. I'm just going to go ahead, meta this puppy, and make an executive decision and clarification, now.

The link is still as active as you want it to be.

There are now three crystals (one in Usawoti, one in Iya-iya, and one just... hanging out, I guess, unused/ungifted to anyone in particular), and three people "joined" to the coven - Usawoti, Inarus, and Iya-Iya.

The % have now risen to 100%. Yay!

Now the fun part. I think I figured out how the puzzle is to be solved, but which pieces are missing. Aka the parts that are not in mental formation that I feel they should be.

Then after, it would be how to direct the floor of the leylines, so to speak.

How are the lines from each alter currently going now?

Going to describe this over here, so it's less ooc coding for me...

Inarus begins to decipher the seven alters - each of which have a powerful aura of different school of magic. He also notices the faint coloring in the stars of the otherwise identical alters, and the patterns on the floor - each alter has two line-like metallic patterns of their particular coloring (only much brighter) that connect it to two other alters, and each alter receives two differing line colors from those alters in turn. The magical auras of these lines seem to be interfering with each other to some extent.

- Conjuration (orange): leads to Evocation, Illusion
- Transmutation (blue): Enchantment, Illusion
- Necromancy (indigo): Abjuration, Enchantment
- Evocation (red): Abjuration, Conjuration
- Illusion (violet): Conjuration, Transmutation
- Enchantment (yellow): Necromancy, Transmutation
- Abjuration (green): Evocation, Necromancy

In the end, this complex arrangement presents a seven-pointed star-like pattern.

Currently finding himself near the necromancy alter, Inarus sees the indigo lines leaving, and the green and yellow lines running to the alter. The lines lead to an empty circle "divot" in the floor around the alter.

Death is probably not necessary, but blood certainly is... unless you manage to somehow activate it blindly, or solve the puzzle. That +18 isn't enough to auto-succeed with a take-10, which is why I asked for it.

So, currently, one orange line from the (conjuration) alter runs on the floor to (evocation), and another to (illusion).

One of the two red lines from (evocation) run back to conjuration; one of the two violet lines from (illusion) also run back to conjuration.

The colored lines (and magic auras) "stop" at a circle carved out of the floor around the alters it leads to.

This pattern continues for all colors in the listed sets.

The brightly colored lines are made from relatively exotic metal alloys (Inarus can smell how they sharply differ from each other and standard metals).

In cases where the lines would "cross" whichever one is "higher" on the ROYGBIV list runs atop the other (so violet is generally on top of everything, indigo is on top of everything it would cross except violet, and so on). This is proooooooooobably an extraneous detail, but I'm informing you only so you don't worry about some secret of the nexus of colored lines on the floor.

I will wager for things to work, red and violet must lead to orange(conjuration), indigo and red must lead to green(abjuration), orange and blue must lead to violet(illusion), blue and indigo must lead to yellow(enchantment), orange and green must lead to red(evocation), violet and yellow must lead to blue(transmutation) and green and yellow must lead to indigo(necromancy).

Interesting thought. I will neither confirm nor deny.

I'm curious, though, how you plan on making that happen.

:)

It's a pattern. Green and Yellow, both which had necromancy auras were leading to an altar labeled necromancy, so following the pattern you just need to match the auras of the lines to the right altars. My reasoning, but I needed to see which of them didn't fit in first so I can see what to do about it.

ok, you work on the lines, I'll get us a 'blood sacrifice'

Where does the other red line from evocation run to?

Where does the other violet line from illusion run to?

Where are the indigo lines currently running to?

One yellow line is going to necromancy, how about the other yellow line?

One green line is going to necromancy, how about the other green line?

How about the blue lines from transmutation? Where are they running to?

I need to know the state of things now before I can move on to what to do.

Or are the lines you stated the only ones active?

Dude. We need to see the problem first, then find a way to fix it. Spilling blood randomly won't help, I think we need to do it at specific altars. God knows how we're going to direct the leylines either.

If I sound a bit grumpy, yes I woke up at 5 am to puzzle ^^

Where does the other red line from evocation run to?

- Evocation (red) has one red line to Abjuration (which has a green line running back) and one to Conjuration (which has an orange line running back).

Where does the other violet line from illusion run to?

- Illusion (violet) has one violet line to Conjuration (which has an orange line going back), and one violet line to Transmutation (which has a blue line going back).

Where are the indigo lines currently running to?

- Necromancy (indigo) has one indigo line to Abjuration (which has a green line running back), and one indigo line to Enchantment (which has a yellow line running back).

One yellow line is going to necromancy, how about the other yellow line?

- Enchantment (yellow) has one yellow line to Necromancy (which has one indigo line running back), and one yellow line to Transmutation (which has one blue line running back).

One green line is going to necromancy, how about the other green line?

- Abjuration (green) has one green line to Evocation (which has one red line running back) and one green line to Necromancy (which has one indigo line running back).

How about the blue lines from transmutation? Where are they running to?

- Transmutation (blue) has one blue line to Enchantment (which has one yellow line running back), and one blue line to Illusion (which has one violet line running back).

I need to know the state of things now before I can move on to what to do.

Fair deal. :)

Or are the lines you stated the only ones active?

The ones I listed are all "active" (as in, they have magical energy), but also "not doing anything" (as in, they aren't making anything happen, at present).

ok, you work on the lines, I'll get us a 'blood sacrifice'

I'm very interested in seeing what you mean by this...

If I sound a bit grumpy, yes I woke up at 5 am to puzzle ^^

You're good. :)

Hmm looks like everything appears to be in order that I expected it to be.

Let's see where were those keystones...

ok, you work on the lines, I'll get us a 'blood sacrifice'

we have a problem with the blood sacrifice. I was going to have him cut of his owns hand. Yeah, I just bing-watched "defenders" on my vacation. But the only weapon Usawoti has is a hammer and he can't swing it one-handed so we need a different plan...

If you're set on attempting that particular plan, without confirming or denying that it would work see: not in the GM alias!, as a fellow player, I am mentioning the possibility of cutting yourself with pretty much anything else. You do, after all, have a literal hawk with sharp talons on you.

Then again, you might have worked something out - I'mma go check the Gameplay...

Yeah, I just bing-watched "defenders" on my vacation.

I just finished Luke Cage, and am super-hyped to see Defenders! (I watched Iron Fist first.)

Usawoti wrote:

Yeah, I just bing-watched "defenders" on my vacation.

I just finished Luke Cage, and am super-hyped to see Defenders! (I watched Iron Fist first.)

I'm glad I didn't say to much else then. I saw in another post that you had watched some of the Netflix shows. Once you get into the defenders season you will see the reference.

so did the thing open? Inarus, what else needs to be done? Do we still need a blood sacrifice?

Sorry. If I sound a little flippant, it actually reflects my mood for the day. I'm not sure what could have caused it, to be honest...

It might have to do with a certain barbarian changing direction on me suddenly...

Ok I thought we still had a 'mind link'

You do. I'm just going to go ahead, meta this puppy, and make an executive decision and clarification, now.

The link is still as active as you want it to be.

There are now three crystals (one in Usawoti, one in Iya-iya, and one just... hanging out, I guess, unused/ungifted to anyone in particular), and three people "joined" to the coven - Usawoti, Inarus, and Iya-Iya.

The % have now risen to 100%. Yay!

Oh, by-the-by, I'm mentioning this again to you two, so you've got an idea:

- Inarus gained a crystal; he later lost it, but retains his link/access/coven stuff/etc.

- Inarus' crystal was given to Iya-Iya; she now has a link/access/coven stuff/etc.

- Usawoti gained a crystal when Inarus did (and the link/access/coven stuff/etc.), and still has his.

- There is still an unused crystal.

Also, a minor something you two might have forgotten...

As an aside, I can't find where Iya-iya actually placed the crystal within her palm, though I have in my (scattered) notes that she did so.

Just in case, for the record, in order to activate it, she had to will it to happen; upon doing so, there was a stinging sensation in each of you as it burrowed its way in (exactly like it was the first time when you each received your own), and she gained a nifty new scar as well. I apologize that this is ooc, but I've been running the game as if this happened, and I can't (at present) find when or where it did so. Still looking around for information from that time...

so did the thing open? Inarus, what else needs to be done? Do we still need a blood sacrifice?

1) It did not... yet.

2) I'unno? That's a lie, I totally '[k]no[w]'

3) Maybe!

I think we should wait for the DD to take place - technically I get half duration too because...

At 2nd level, an archaeologist gains a bonus equal to half his class level on Disable Device and Perception checks. He can disable intricate and complex devices in half the normal amount of time (minimum 1 round) and open a lock as a standard action.

Also TL - I'm busy casting a complicated ritual at the moment...I think Usawoti knows what it is - maybe he'd like to enlighten you ;)

But yeah I was singing Let it go, Let it go....from frozen all the way while I was doing it..

"Time to test the limits and break through!"

My excuse? It was shiny.

I don't know if you want to help out powering up the altars -they're shinny and they ought to be doing something, right?

*so flippant*

I think we should wait for the DD to take place - technically I get half duration too because...

At 2nd level, an archaeologist gains a bonus equal to half his class level on Disable Device and Perception checks. He can disable intricate and complex devices in half the normal amount of time (minimum 1 round) and open a lock as a standard action.

Also TL - I'm busy casting a complicated ritual at the moment...I think Usawoti knows what it is - maybe he'd like to enlighten you ;)

But yeah I was singing Let it go, Let it go....from frozen all the way while I was doing it..

"Time to test the limits and break through!"

My excuse? It was shiny.

Oh! That's good! I'd forgotten that!

That means you've only done 1 full round and a standard and move action out of three possible rounds of actions!

As an aside, Usawoti, I'm reminding you of this post you made. No reason. XD

Here is where Iya-iya was given the crystal. She dropped it to the floor here. Hrm. If it's a retcon that she's got it, it's a retcon, I suppose. Sorry! But it'll work out better for you that she does. (I don't find any actual reference to it after that, but it's possible that I'm just using the wrong searches).

Here is a vague recap from earlier in the campaign.

Since then, you've claimed a whole layer, established Inarus as a (highly contained) quasi-god of three of them, and then led an all-out crusade up a central shaft and (after many puzzles and much weirdness) against a horde of abyssal fungal servitors.

... yay!...? XD

I'd probably go for powering up all the altars to see what they do - if there are 7 altars down here - powering them up should open the doorway?

And if it's making the bad guys mad, I'm all for doing it!

I think I'll go cycling...

"It's a beautiful day outside. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming... on days like these, kids like you.."

so I thought Inarus kept his stone and we gave the extra one to Iya-Iya.

I don't know.

I'm ruling it this way, now.

#GMpowertryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyp; suckahs~!

No, but really: my notes are a mess, I've a headache and don't feel like searching the archives any more, and time (and reality), as noted, has been weird in this tower since you've got here, so. Unless there are objections or preferences (which I'm fine with), I'm ruling it this way.

XD

Ok, not trying to metagame, just trying to understand, so I have several questions.

Fair!

not an action yet:

Also fair!

Is the wind the 'flower girls' feint? Or are we waiting for something else?

I'unno! Actually, I totally do, but yu'unno, it seems, based on your question... something that might be more understood with, say, a Sense Motive check...

Did you roll all the 'D4's'

I did!

and is that information we need to have?

It is not! ... though you know, due to GM mistake, that you have at least three rounds, so far.

So combat is going on, but we are not being attacked because of the walls of air and other hordes.

Correct.

This will allow three rounds of actions if Usawoti wants to attack or do something else.

Three or four, depending on what I rolled (which you don't, technically, know).

The question: does it look like the spells we were using was having the desired effect. IE. Does it look like we were winning or are there more 'badguys' pouring in and this combat looks unwinnable and we need to get the door open before we get overwhelmed?

... yyyyeeeeesssss?

That is, the spells you were using definitively were having the "desired" effect, in terms of destroying pretty much everything you were using it on, but it's hard to tell if you're making a true dent in a horde this vast... at least not without good skill checks involved.

I will metagame enough to let you know, however, that no action you've taken so far is "wasted" - at least in the sense that, even if an action has failed (such as a UMD that's one point off), at least something has happened as a result - just not always an obvious something.

For clarity: it's taken a move to get to an alter, and a standard to activate it by way of seed.

That puts Inarus down three rounds of actions, and Usawoti down two full rounds of actions.

There is (however temporarily) a "hole" open in the central structure (underneath the overhang/roof) that looks like it goes into a vast void (an effect - or similar to one - you've encountered before...)

What can I say...I've always been unconventional?

ok, two creatures can pass through the door at a time, so does Inarus carrying Usawoti count as one or two? I'm hoping one so Iya-Iya can make it through in the first round also.

So the question becomes which of Inarus' followers actually get to follow? Can we hand choose the biggest baddest ones to join us?

The issue is how many of them are next to Usawoti.

I'm imagining combat being a huge mess so it may not be possible that everyone is within reach.

Though I described a thing happening, feel free to ask anyone else to attempt to follow. :)

I was waiting for an Usawoti...?

Should I not?

(This isn't pressure, I'm just curious on how best to proceed, and am communicating for clarity. :D)

I was just waiting for more information on who crossed over with us. I will go post.

That's cool! mostly I don't want to make it so that posts go by without you having a chance to input. I don't mind moving forward, but I also don't want to do so in a manner that leaves you feeling unable to act. I like player agency, you know? XD