War for the Crown with DM Vayelan

Game Master vayelan

FWIW, I think rolling up in force and kicking him out with visible support from both the peasants and the leading nobles is way better optics

It's definitely the ideal endgame for me, at least!

I will also add that once you reach Book 2's endgame, as you get close to confronting the count and taking the palace, you receive a letter from Martella that lays out some specific objectives for the final push while also showing that your efforts have secured tacit approval from an authority above the count.

Do you want me to post the letter's contents in the gameplay thread now or after the party?

I like getting the letter in both times; before the party would help us leverage it against our hopeful allies, but after would mean we would have to work to convince them which could be fun

Either way is fine by me.

Either, with a slight preference for having the letter before.
Same as with the documents you already have, we don't HAVE to show anybody.
But if some hopeful ally is too reluctant because there is no official backing, we'd have the option to use it.
(Or, once everybody is on board, we can present it to "seal the deal", so to say - and anybody that may have been on the edge and joined with doubts may become a firm believer in the cause)

I can see how either situation could be better for different reasons, like Greenly mentioned. I'm happy to leave it up to you Veyelan. Choose the one you think will play better.

I've posted the letter, modified to reflect that Martella is banking on you having already won over the local nobility against the Count.

Furthermore...

Welcome to Level 6!

Woo! Something to do tonight! The last episode of Silo isn't out quite yet.

Level up summary:
+6 HP
+1 BaB
+1 all saves
+1 Towering Ego Bonus via FCB.
+1 level 2 spell/day
+1 level 2 spell known: I'll leave that one open for now, I'll take a look tomorrow. Some candidates...

Touch Treatment now includes moderate Conditions: Confused, dazed, frightened, sickened.
Mesmerist Trick: Gift of Will

Skills:
+1 Bluff
+1 Diplomacy
+1 Disguise
+1 Perception
+1 Sense Motive
+1 UMD
+1 Intimidate
+1 Stealth

Background:
+1 Appraise
+1 Lore(Taldan Military)

I’ve been looking forward to this.

Level up summary:
+6 HP
+1 BaB
+1 all saves

+1 level 2 spell/day
+1 level 2 spell known: Blistering Invective

New Busker Stunt:
Fascinate (Su)
At 6th level, the busker can fascinate creatures with his stunts, as per the bardic performance ability.

New Bard Abilities
Versatile Performance (Ex) - Finally using this one! (I had the ability, just not the right Perform Skills.)
At 2nd level, a bard can choose one type of Perform skill. He can use his bonus in that skill in place of his bonus in associated skills. When substituting in this way, the bard uses his total Perform skill bonus, including class skill bonus, in place of its associated skill’s bonus, whether or not he has ranks in that skill or if it is a class skill. At 6th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the bard can select an additional type of Perform to substitute.
*Comedy (Intimidate)

Advanced Versatile Performance – Something new has been added!
Beginning at 6th level, instead of selecting an additional skill with versatile performance, a bard or skald can choose an advanced versatile performance for one Perform skill he previously selected with versatile performance. Some advanced versatile performance options can be selected only if the bard or skald meets the option’s prerequisites.
*Masterpiece: The bard gains a bardic masterpiece, as if he were giving up a feat to learn it. He must meet the masterpiece’s prerequisites, and the masterpiece must list ranks in a Perform skill that the bard has chosen with versatile performance as a prerequisite. This option can be selected multiple times.
**The Dumbshow of Gorroc (Comedy)
~Perform (Comedy) 6 ranks
~Story: This pantomime tells the tale of Gorroc, a foolish farmer who failed to control the weeds that grew so quickly upon his land. In desperation, Gorroc bargained with a devil, who blasted the earth with salt and withering heat, leaving the fertile land desolate for a century.
~Effect: When you complete the performance, you can create a 30-foot cone or a 60-foot line that is blasted with scorching air and hot salt. Plants and oozes in this area take 1d6 points of damage per bard level (maximum 10d6); half this damage is fire damage, half is piercing damage. A Reflex save reduces the damage by half. Creatures other than plants or oozes take half damage, or no damage on a successful save.
~Cost: 2 bardic performance rounds (Busker Stunts)
~Performance 'Casting Time': 1 full round

Skills:
+1 Bluff
+1 Perception

Background:
+1 Perform (Juggling)
+1 Linguistics (+Kelish)
+6 Perform (Comedy)

Investigator Level 5

HP +7

+1 vs Psychic spells & SLAs

Talent: Quick Study

2nd level spell: Anticipate Thoughts

Dropping 1st level spell Color Spray, replaced by Ill Omen

Skills: +1 to Acrobatics, Bluff, Diplomacy, Disable Device, K Arcana, K Dungeoneering, K Planes, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Stealth

Background Skills: +1 K History, Sleight of Hand

It may not look like a very exciting level, but Quick Study is a game-changer!

Ha, I had both Blistering Infective and Anticipate Thoughts on my shortlist - together with Silence, Focused Scrutiny and Howling Agony.

In the end, I will make use of Anticipate Thoughts as well.

I also forgot to explicitly point out some progressive stuff (e.g. all the "half level" stuff going from +2 to +3.) - but they are automatic anyway and not really anything new so I hope that's ok.

If all goes well, this'll be the last Barbarian level in a while

+1 BAB, +11 HP, +1 FCB superstition, +1 to fort, ref, will, +1 to initiative and ac during a surprise round, +2 rounds/rage

New rage power: Spirit Totem, 20% miss chance vs ranged or reach

+1 Dip, K. Local, Perception, +2 Bluff (Greenly lied a whole bunch level five, feel she should be rewarded for it)

+2 K. Nobility

There are a couple of reasons why Amandine at least would very much prefer not to share the new letter that has arrived unless it's absolutely necessary.

First, the letter makes it pretty clear that the party is acting on behalf of outside interests. We're more or less agent provocateurs. Amandine has been working very hard to keep that under wraps so the party appears to be just a new group of regular residents.

Second, Martella isn't exactly complementary about Meratt. Amandine strongly believes impressions matter, and that it doesn't create a good one even if it is maybe just a minor slight.

Gah! Sorry, I swear I didn't see any new posts! Leveling up now. Vayelan, would you be all right with me replacing my Scribe Scroll feat? We haven't really had the opportunity to make much use of it (or I'm just not using it effectively), so it's been a bit of a dead feat for me.

As a cleric, I don't get a ton right now, but I do get a couple more spell slots.
+1 BAB
+1 to all saves
+6 HP
+1 Skill rank to Diplomacy, History, Painting, Sense Motive, and Spellcraft

Gah! Sorry, I swear I didn't see any new posts! Leveling up now. Vayelan, would you be all right with me replacing my Scribe Scroll feat? We haven't really had the opportunity to make much use of it (or I'm just not using it effectively), so it's been a bit of a dead feat for me.

As a cleric, I don't get a ton right now, but I do get a couple more spell slots.
+1 BAB
+1 to all saves
+6 HP
+1 Skill rank to Diplomacy, History, Painting, Sense Motive, and Spellcraft

Yes, you can swap out Scribe Scroll for a feat that you will get more use or enjoyment out of.

Hej, I had close to 40 degrees fever for most of last week. I am slowly getting better again to the point where I can do short activities, or spend a little time on the computer. I will try and catch up in gameplay everywhere once I am able to, but that may be tomorrow or in a couple days - no promises I can give here.

Whoa I hope your recovery was swift and easy

Has anyone heard from the GM since last month?

Yes. I think he might have been waiting on us waiting on him.

I'd meant to post something soon, but I'v been really busy and haven't been able to easily get my head around any party planning.

I assume we're talking about a 2 to 3 day thing like a smaller version of the Tanager Jubilee, which means not just food and drink, but some sort of planned activities or events (aside from the ones the party is covering for). I can't think of anything.

We also need to get invitations out, and I'm sure there are some other things not coming to mind at the moment.

Yes, I've been in contact with him via PM, clarifying some parts of my background.

I'll get a post in tomorrow, or at the weekend - that may give some RP potential between us, for now.
(I had meant to post for the last couple days already, but I was very busy with a project and the heat here was draining me of what little energy I had left).

Yes, it seems we had a unfortunate misunderstanding where I was waiting on you guys, while you guys were waiting on me.

Terribly sorry. I'll get the ball rolling again.

I just thought of this, but could we have invited the magical Swan-girl from the lake? She lives in the county too. Right? Longer than anyone else here I might add I think. It might seem weird, but could it really hurt to cultivate an ally like that? Assuming she would even come to the party of course...

Sure.

For the sake of keeping things moving along, if there's anyone you want to see at the party/meeting that hasn't been outright stated, feel free to introduce them via gameplay post.

Probably the two most sensitive potential guests are Count Lotheed and Lucretzia "Night Swan" Marthane.

We can rule that the party sent a very carefully worded invitation to the Count designed to ensure he would politely decline to attend.

Thus, you guys just need to decide whether or not to invite Marthane. Having her present alongside Baron Okerra has the potential for conflict between the two, but snubbing her means losing her aid in the coming push to take the Palace.

I like her and I think we can guide any potential conflict towards us all working together, I and Greenly would both want her there

I only worry about the temptation Marthane might have with all the 'potential' targets around. But if we want to invite her, I will keep an eye on her directly throughout the party. Her aid could be invaluable with taking the Palace.

Terribly sorry. I'll get the ball rolling again.

I believe it may have been my fault. In the first DM I sent, I stated that I wanted to open up to the party and reveal some details - i.e. talk with them following Amandine showing the letter.

So you may have waited on me doing that - but between clarifying with you and working out some of my own background stuff, it all got delayed more than it should have been. Just saying - I'm quite willing to take part of the blame-

as for prospective guests, I concur, invite everyone, work things out during the party if needed.

Agreed on all counts. Let's get this show on the road!

Writer's block! I'm so out of my league with Mira and Amandine, lol

Writer's block! I'm so out of my league with Mira and Amandine, lol

I can empathize...and I'm supposed to be the freaking GM!

Seriously, though, while I appreciate the effort and enthusiasm they've been putting in, don't feel like you have to compete. In fact, I also appreciate having smaller, bite-sized posts as breaks between the larger ones.

.....

Assuming nothing catastrophic happens during your party, between the coalition of nobles you've assembled and the number of Loyalty Points you've accumulated during this book, you have achieved the Heroes of the People level of effect (which is the highest tier).

This means that all the palace guards will have abandoned their posts when you march on the Palace of Birdsong, recognizing that the PCs and their patrons are the rightful heirs to the estate.

There is another potential benefit, but I'm not sure whether to inform you upfront or give you the chance to discover it on your own.

Then do we set the date for the Palace reclamation event?

An important notice to all my games:

First off, I would like to apologize for putting off this announcement until the last minute.

My wife and I will soon be welcoming our second child into the world. We will be going to the hospital on Monday, July 31, to begin the induction process. This will be, obviously, a very hectic time for me, so my ability to post will be quite compromised.

I will bring a laptop with me to the hospital, so it will be possible for me to update games during rare moments of quiet.
However, I cannot guarantee that this will be consistent.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Wow! No pressure! You enjoy the moment, and don’t worry about us.

Meraki Hannan wrote:

Writer's block! I'm so out of my league with Mira and Amandine, lol

I can empathize...and I'm supposed to be the freaking GM!

Thank you both for that.

For what it's worth, I often felt out of my league with you guys as well and tried to put in extra effort to not fall behind.
So I kind of appreciate the notion and want to give a shout-out to my long-term buddy, low self esteem :)

An important notice to all my games:

First off, I would like to apologize for putting off this announcement until the last minute.
My wife and I will soon be welcoming our second child into the world.
...
Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Congratulations, and I hope everything goes smoothly.

I had #4 earlier this year, so I am well aware of how these times are. You take the time you need, and don't feel compelled to do anything in the near future.
We can always socialize a bit at the party, or talk some more among ourselves and with guests, or just wait for a bit.
That is your kid, we're just a bunch of understanding strangers from some board. Worlds of difference in priority - so again, all the best and we'll read you when the time is opportune. :)

Congratulations Vayelan! Take whatever time you need so you're coming back feeling like you're really ready and there's no strain.

Thanks Meraki and Vayelan for what you said about the posts. I've been trying to dial back the length and complexity some for a while now though, since I feel like I was overdoing it earlier on. Apologies for the many text walls I have fed the rest of you.

Mira, aside from the "hej" that sneaks in sometimes, I would never guess english wasn't your first language if I didn't already know.

No apologies necessary! I genuinely enjoy reading your posts, all of you.

Congrats Vayelan! Sorry for disappearing for a mo, I'll reply to thread when able <3

Speech time! Not envious of you here Amandine. Do you want me or someone to 'intro' you, or will you just go for it?

@GM: If she she has to make any rolls here, can we aid her at all? 'Moral support' at least or something?

-Jeremy C.

Haha, two minds. I was like 'ok, someone probably intros her, then she gives a speech' and decided that with the current situation it's not proper for Mira to do that, but some long-term companion should.

That said, I second the aid question.
(albeit it sounds like we already garnered all the support we can, and this is more of a formality.)

I had been thinking that we'd let the evening run its course without bringing up politics and do it the next day. Say when everyone assembles for brunch or something like that. It's hard to gain control of a party situation involving a lot of people to have a serious conversation without harshing on the good vibes too much.

But I thought about it for a while and I think we can do it in the evening. A dessert and tea/coffee course so everyone can take a pause recharge their batteries could be just the thing.

Amandine can deliver the news that she's been sent the document with the court decision about Lotheed. He no longer has any legal claim to Birdsong Palace, but the court itself will no move to evict the squatter. It will be up to us.

I think a shorter, to the point speech should do. Everyone present should be of like mind on the principles at stake, just a matter of convincing them to act. I've got some ideas for that part of it.

I'm not sure if I can get the post up today, it might be tomorrow. Intros and aids are welcome!

Okay, for the evening of the party, you can keep things casual and avoid discussing the dirty business until morning.

During the party, in place of ordinary Aid Another checks, you can each make a DC 15 check using one of your skills. This will represent using your talents and interests to entertain the guests and further win them over, leaving them more apt to side with the party and your efforts.

In the morning, Amandine can make her Diplomacy check to sway the guests, getting a +2 bonus for each party member whose check was successful.

This is beyond the contents of the AP book, so I will introduce benefits based upon the scope of your success. For instance, you can call in the intervention of the Night Swan during an encounter of your choosing in the palace as she dramatically crashes through a window or busts down a door, or Baron Telus sends some of his most loyal servants and they provide assistance on a skill check during your siege of the palace.

Love that

Now I feel a bit awkward for the intro...

Should I still roll a skill roll? Or just keep my post for now and re-call it later once time is right?

Now I feel a bit awkward for the intro...

Should I still roll a skill roll? Or just keep my post for now and re-call it later once time is right?

If you want to make a roll with another one of your skills, please go for it - especially if you have a good idea or description in mind. In that case, we can save your post for the morning when Amandine actually discusses real business.

It was a pretty good roll. I will keep it and hope it helps somehow in the end.

Apologies all:

I hate to pile on, but it may be difficult for me to jump on and post for the next few days or so. My father has been at home in hospice care for over 2 years now and things seem to be suddenly accelerating today according to my sister.

Please bot me where/when needed, and I will attempt to stay up to date and post when I can in the near future.

I can’t help myself, but I just got an email from my previous publisher! He just found a really good review of a PF1 book I wrote:

Blood and Broomsticks review…if you dare!..

Its like… my first real review! Im over the moon.

My sincere condolences for your father but congrats about your review! Mixed emotions