Way of the Wicked - The fall of Andoran, Chapter II (Inactive)

Game Master increddibelly

Ladies and gentlemen, you've seen it all. Every room of the Horn of Abaddon.

The most pressing thing on your list that I can think of, is that you have promised the Daemons that you'd start the ritual in 8 days from now. You still need to collect some things to be able to do that.

Unholy water sprouts freely from the various fountains around the upper floors.

You have one of the three eyes in your posession; one is in the treasury, and another remains to be found.

To start the ritual, you need a sacrifice - I don't believe that you've assigned a volunteer yet.

Well.
You know what to do - even though the details are a little unclear. I leave the how and the when for you to decide.

A volunteer, fantastic. Any suggestions/ideas?

I suggest 'one of our own'.

A volunteer, fantastic. Any suggestions/ideas?

Hmmmm... Headless stone statue of priest of Vetra Kali plus head of same plus stone salve -> our volunteer, for a given value of "voluntary".... Yes?

No need to bring him back to life just yet though; he'd only fret for the next 8 days...

He might know where the third eye can be found.

He might.

For the record, I think your current solutions are rather neat - polite, even.
If you want to turn the evil up to 11 at some point, we're going to have to do worse than 3.

I hope the NSA isn't watching, btw. my phone messages and web searches of the last year will raise some flags. Well, I'm off to catch my beauty sleep and then spend the day hopefully completing a certain ritual at the table. AFK for 36h.

Sorry for my absence, I had a crazy week at work with some extra-curricular activities at school taking up all my spare time.

Intelligence Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

A beating heart, eh? How very Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

So, we still need our other two sacrifices assuming the Priest works for our first, and the third eye. I'd also like to find those plates, make the Daemon ours to control... it would put an end to the 8 day countdown too if we could.

So, we still need our other two sacrifices assuming the Priest works for our first

An (evil?) thought occurs - why not task Elise whatsername of the Seventh Knot with tracking the other two down? If she succeeds, then it's 'well done, minion' (emphasis on minion...)

If she fails and we have to step in and do it ourselves, then that puts her in her place (and possibly - depending on her Contract - puts her out of our misery altogether).

What do you think?

Oh and IB, Morvius prefers to think of himself as determined, rather than Evil... :)

It was a Good day. I almost killed three of them....Which means you should get an even harder time now that I've had some practice. Dum de dum.

I'm going to be leaving to go on vacation this Friday, and will not be back home until Sunday, 11/24.

I will attempt to log in and post each day, but feel free to bot my character as needed to keep things moving.

Hehe. Sorry for my absence as well. I've been on a rollercoaster lately. Sindran will stay in his temporary room (meditation hall of the high priest) for today unless someone gets him.

a request to all - if you quote someone, please be prudent and only quote the bit you need? it is so much easier on the eyes...

have fun Oret! I'll set the charmers to work while you're away.

Nothing to add to the current scene. Just posting I'm here.

Nothing to add to the current scene.

Noted. I'll try to feed you something.

Thanks, but I'm good. I would have hopped in but I just didn't get a chance to post. Besides, I'm still trying to finish all the suggestions I've got for the Horn.

So definitely appreciated, but I'm fine. :)

Cala's little "date" has revealed some very useful information. I'll post a response after work today.

OK aerent, thanks.

Sorry, my bad... got home later than I had anticipated (report cards were due today), so I'll post this evening.

It's night already. Morning, for some.
Take your time. It's a game.

Unfortunately, I have - at this dramatic juncture - been called away with work. I will be AFK until some time on Thursday.

IB said that we have 7 days remaining; in that time Morvius will do the following:

1. return to Farholde to collect his trunk and a few bits and pieces (some minor scrolls and reagents)

2. set up the alchemical lab and the smithy (he has equipment and masterwork tools for this). Offers of assistance in this are politely refused: Morvius stores his liquid reagents alphabetically and his crystal reagents by colour spectrum. (Anyone trying to read the labels may wish they hadn't.)

3. Work on the alchemical golem, restoring the acid, ice and fire (obtained from the pool/Farholde as appropriate) chambers and working to fix the other parts.

4. Kill the lightning elemental and collect its blood. Offers of assistance gratefully accepted. (Incidentally, "protection from energy" is a touch spell, so I think Morvius can drink the extract and then pass its benefit on to others, even though extracts can only be drunk by him.)

Morvius will either use Halthus' brain to power the golem (after the sacrifice) or pick up a victim in Farholde from the Baron.

perhaps this is a good quest for the fighty folks - Do you have any ideas about how to deal with the dangerous lightning elemental that's hovering about the sanctum - thus making it pretty much impossible to perform the ritual?

We have Talon attempt diplomacy.

That will cause sparks. I like it.

Lol, sparks.

Speaking of sparks, I need to get some damage going besides electricity. Oh well, at least I'll have time to prepare for the fight and I'll jump in all buffed up. I can probably just prepare some frigid touches and augment Rygat with any sort of energy other than electricity.

So, buffing up. I plan walking in with these spells active: shield, enlarge person, mirror image, and haste. Morivus, I would very much appreciate bulls strength and resist energy.

This is blowing a lot of expendables, but I think I should be able to take him down at this point. Although, I would like to see if I can upgrade my armor before doing this. Although wearing even MORE metal might not be too helpful against a lightning elemental.

If we've identified it, then we should know that elementals generally have pretty good fortitude and reflexes, but spells that affect their willpower are typically more effective. If we could hit it with a few of those, that might be enough to lock it down for a couple of rounds and prevent unnecessary damage, giving us enough time to destroy it.

-----

Last time we talked about our organizations, Sindran wanted to run his own, while Cala and I were going to go in together. Is that still the plan? If so, I would at least like to coordinate so we're not doing the same things each turn.

Indeedy do. I would actually like to enlist said lightning elemental to aid us but I'm fine with bringing it down or whatever.

@Morvius: Officially, all alchemist extracts can only affect the drinking alchemist, I'm afraid! Even if the spell in question is communal. If you have the Infusion discovery then whoever drinks the infusion is the 'caster' and only affects them. Unofficially, if you have infusion and want to share a spell meant to be split up between many targets if the GM is okay with it then why not?

By the way, it is the next day already? I'm not certain because the whole Halthus and Eye of Withering thing was the day before and you're all still on that. Sindran is periodically watching everything with that first Eye anyway so he knows everything that's going on and doesn't really need to be caught up. *cough, extremely convenient excuses, cough*

Since a date usually takes place in the evening, and Cala is returned from her pleasant evening, I think it makes sense to continue the conversation the next morning.

But really, I'm just pushing time forward to keep the pressure on. For which I owe Cala my thanks, becasue she helped me greatly with that by turning on the anti-christmas-lights, so to speak.

To keep things focused - this is what I think is happening, and please correct me if I'm wrong.

Preparing to assault the lightning elemental shouldn't take more than a few minutes before the actual fighting. I'd like to fly around the perimeter a few times and do some scouting around the forest so maybe we can have a heads up if some adventurer's get the idea of coming to stop our operation. Besides that I'd like to help Aerent set up some traps.

The double pit trap. A pit trap of moderate design with about a 10 foot diameter, spikes or other unpleasantness at the bottom. The trick is that when about 300 pounds is on the surrounding area, a second pit trap twice as large opens up and brings down anybody trying to help the first victim.

That's a big to do list. Anyway, some of us will have cohorts shortly to help with the rituals too. I'm assuming they would make suitable replacements in a pinch.

Last time we talked about our organizations, Sindran wanted to run his own, while Cala and I were going to go in together. Is that still the plan? If so, I would at least like to coordinate so we're not doing the same things each turn.

Yeah, it was the plan last time we talked. I know Sindran wanted to go it alone, but looking at the pooling rules, having one big Evil Organization seems more efficient than one. Having said that, my vision for an evil society run by Caladwhen would be a very secretive society that is really good at sneaky and underhanded actions... a larger group might be very different than that one.

Speaking of cohorts, I've decided that Caladwhen's will be a Lawful Evil Female Half-Elven Cleric of Urgathoa. Negative energy burst baby! She'll be able to heal Cala's army of the dead, very nice. Stats follow:

Final:

Str: 8
Dex: 15
Con: 10
Int: 16
Wis: 18
Chr: 16

Not bad at all actually. Normally I'd ask if I could move the stats around, but I don't think Focus/Foible allows you to do that, nor do I actually need to looking how those turned out... she'll only be slightly less brilliant than Cala herself, scary.

Hi all, just got back and am jet-lagged but checking in

Indeedy do. I would actually like to enlist said lightning elemental to aid us but I'm fine with bringing it down or whatever.

I need its blood for the golem - and I've no idea how one reasons with an elemental, given that it is essentially primal nature given life. They're not found at ambassadors' parties eating expensive chocolates; they're not seen at the most exclusive parties or shopping in the most expensive districts. I suspect this is for a reason...

@Morvius: Officially, all alchemist extracts can only affect the drinking alchemist, I'm afraid! Even if the spell in question is communal.

Thanks for the link to that FAQ; I maintain that it's odd to have "communal" spells on the alchemist's list if they can't in fact be shared, but hey. Morvius is a selfish so-and-so (although - hopefully - learning how to work in a group) so we'll play it like that.

Things to do without particular time pressure:

• setup defenses - with proper materials, proper traps
  
• find a smith to create proper building materials (perhaps a cohort with skills?)

Morvius can craft traps and weapons & armour - AND magical weapons and armour; you will need to form an orderly queue behind Talon, as pushing in front of him may result in a critical Spellstrike shocking grasp....

Apologies for any incoherence, I will post more tomorrow

Morvius can craft traps and weapons & armour - AND magical weapons and armour; you will need to form an orderly queue behind Talon, as pushing in front of him may result in a critical Spellstrike shocking grasp....

Lol.

So I've been glancing through the magical armor and really can't find any sort of special ability that jumps out at me. I'd say just slap a flat bonus on some heavy armor and be done with it. Maybe a +2?

if you can pay for the materials, and someone can make it, make it.
How much time does it take to craft? roll x 10gp? meh.
(someone please find the rules? I'm in a classroom now)

8 hours of work per 1,000 gold of its base price

I'm going to need a clickable source for that - sorry :) I'm leaving a little bit of my work to you all, so I can focus on telling the story of the campaign. I know you won't mind browsing stuff and it helps me *lots*. This will get a little worse as we reach higher levels, but I'm absolutely sure we'll find a way that leave me some time to spend with the kids (ZOMG they're awesome) and gets you whatever the F*K you want

What I found was over yonder and it involves much rolling. Which is meh. So. I will now flood you with the houserules I've hacked for my tabletop game.

Since we'll be here for 6 months - 31 weeks, 222 days of rollings dice... I think now would be an excellent time to take 10; if not simply for speeding things up, then just for the matter of rolling 222 times and taking ten anyway by way of Basic Statistics 101. There's just no way that your rolls are going to matter if you roll 222 times in a row.

So. Whoever crafts whatever, will have to take-10 on their roll; no exceptions - unless you think something very important should be done very quickly AND you manage to make me believe it (which can be done, although it probably involves chocolate).

to set expectations, here's the grit:

6th paragraph I believe

Super. Thanks Talon.

A dedicated crafter can create 6k worth of magic items in a week, allowing 1 day for rest or interruption.
No rolls required. That is useful.

Is that 6k related to the store price, or craft price (half price, or double craft speed)..?

I believe the specific wording was "base price", which is equivalent to store price.

How much do we have in terms of funding for gear for each character? I'd like to know, so I can start planning out some gear creations.

Morvius will be your go to guy for making magic weapons and armor, Caladwhen can produce wondrous items. Between the two of them, we should be able to craft a good deal worth of things for the party. My next magic item feat will probably be rings, but that'll be awhile.

That is a great question - who is the party treasurer? I have 7,000 to add to the stash (this is the cash I rolled on character creation minus gear acquired).

Do we intend to have personal wealth or party wealth?

Party wealth might be easier - we'd then just have one lump sum to keep track of that we could divide up as needed.

But I'm good with whatever system you have in place...

party loot - as per the contract.

about creating traps:

Once the ritual starts, we'll move in a weekly timescale; as in, one round lasts one week**. You can simply state what projects you'd like to work on during that week. If you can somehow get the required materials and meet any other prerequisites, anything is possible.

Some magic items may take longer than one week to create and in those cases, simply mark the number of days spent on the project in your weekly post'.

**Of course, sometimes stuff happens which requires your personal attention for a while, and we'll deal with those encounters in normal time (one round lasts 6 seconds). The weekly task list helps focus on the tasks at hand - there will of course be plenty of distractions, otherwise this would be rather boring.

I'll go over this in more detail when whe get there; starting the ritual is a big deal. It affects much of how the game will run.

I think Oret is back - shall we go get rid of the Elemental like you wanted?

Let's go spill some yellow blood.

Morvius, could I get those two buffs as per request?

party loot - as per the contract.

Okay, sounds good.

What is the party loot pool at anyway? I've entirely lost track.

current loot pool is at insignificant levels compared to what's in the treasury.
We have a few armors, couple of mundane swords. I'll give you 5k for the lot and we'll never speak of it again.

Current cash pool is significant, though; if someone wants to do a search for 'gp' or 'gold' in this gameplay thread AND the last page of the old thread... I would be so happy that I might not kill their character first chance I get.
j/k, I'm just being obnoxious.

Talon - unfortunately I don't think that I can buff others with my extracts, based on the FAQ Sindran has found (see above).

I'm not minded to ask IB to overturn the ruling, since firstly it looks as though the game designers really did intend to make the extracts personal use only (despite having "communal" versions of spells in the alchemist spell list - go figure...) - and secondly because from a role-play/storytelling perspective it works: Morvius has been a loner and is only just working out how to fit into a group. There's just no reason that he would have researched how to make his extracts work for others (yet).

What I think I can do however is tank: my melee damage is pretty feeble but I've got over 50 hit points and I can get my AC up to about 25 or so without much difficulty. Add that to 20 points of electricity resistance (plus maybe a displacement effect) and you're looking at something pretty hard to hurt (I hope...). I'm happy to attract its attention while everyone else dishes out the damage. If anyone in the group can cast haste, then so much the better.

Oret - if you're back, is that going to be of use? What strategy do you and Aerent suggest - I gather you're the resident tacticians?

Let me know if you think I've missed anything; Morvius would quite like the walking stick, it would add to his self-image greatly... :)

I can cast haste. Alright than

Thanks for the count, morvius.
the stuff from the treasury needs to be sold in farholde, but there's only so much money there...It's a small city, not a metropolis.
Maybe Sindran's contact with the black market can help with selling the surplus - but they take a 20% cut.

The total treasury is about 50k, give or take a few, to allow for some negotiating in order to get things turned into money.
That seems a nice round number to start with. You can always make more through the organisation, by putting your minions to work in various legal or illegal opportunities.

Now, about that elemental. Let me know when you're ready?

I really would like to run in their with some electricity resistance. It will probably make the difference between a near death experience and a moderate fight

Yes, Oret's back, sorry for the delay. I second the desire for electricity resistance. As we learned with the treant, our enemies will attack what is attacking them most effectively; there's no way to guarantee that Morvius will be the target once the elemental receives any damage, and maybe not even then.

If we're going after it now, then let's just go and try to overwhelm it. Let Oret run to it first, so that he can use Crane Wing on the AoO to get in melee range. If it doesn't have Combat Reflexes, the other melee folks can get in there without any damage.

It's likely fairly large, so Morvius should be able to bomb it with no danger of catching us in the blast (I hope).

If it's lightning incarnate, then it's probably got a heck of a reflex save - Sindran, if you've got something else in your bag of tricks, now's the time.

Cala - I'd say max out your animate dead HD, bring your creations along. The faster we take it out (and the more targets we give it), the better.

Aerent, Talon, and Oret can do melee damage - haste and other buffs will be very helpful.

That about cover it?