GM Spicer's Cradle of Night

Game Master Neil Spicer

Fighter-Man sayz: ‘Nuff talk, smash stuff time now?

No wait, that’s a barbarian. I’m good.

One request for the GM, though:

Based on the info about the various enemies we`re likely to be facing, I`d say that a reliable way to cast daylight sounds like a high priority. Preferably with some redundancy, like both spells, scrolls, wands and oils.

What do you caster types think?

We need whatever can defeat deeper darkness, in my opinion. It would be more economical to target regular darkness with castings of darkvision or communal darkvision, but we can't defeat supernatural darkness with darkvision.

I believe there is a higher-level version of daylight called brightest light. It would be good to get that into our wizard's spellbook. The issue with daylight and deeper darkness is that they cancel each other, which means if we use our daylight to cancel their darkness, then they can just use another darkness to cancel our daylight and we're s#&@ out of luck.

Oh, another suggestion - communal resist energy. Aiyana mentioned that some shadow-aligned creatures freeze, which means cold damage. If that's a big part of any one monster's kit, we can shut that right down.

Brightest light is from the adventurer's guide, so not sure if we'll have access to it. (That said, I can cast it if the GM allows we can find it), but it's also a cleric spell so Suetonius should have more immediate/easier access.)

A wand of daylight certainly might not hurt as an addition. It'll cost 11,250 gp, though, which are going to deplete a lot of our funds if they're available.

--

Do we want to divvy up the treasure in terms of who's carrying it?

The treasure consists of 2,400 gp in various gemstones, a masterwork mithral dagger, three potions of cure moderate wounds, three potions of lesser restoration, a scroll of shadow conjuration, and an ounce of stone salve, all carried in a handy haversack, which Aiyana informs you is also part of the payment.

I don't think it really matters who's carrying the lesser restoration potions, but maybe give the potions of CMW to those who don't have access to healing? I always like to give stone salve to those with the highest Fort save since they're least likely to get it petrified with them. I don't think anyone else can cast shadow conjuration? (If not, I'll take it, but if someone else can use it, let's let them hold it because I've already got it in my spellbook.)

Well, for what it is worth, I already have Brightest Light prepared as one of my spells - it seemed thematically appropriate, for a Cleric fighting against the Court ;-)

Of course, it *is* also a quite useful spell!

Oh, well, that's good. :) Never mind my last post, then. :)

Do we want to divvy up the treasure in terms of who's carrying it?

Quote:

The treasure consists of 2,400 gp in various gemstones, a masterwork mithral dagger, three potions of cure moderate wounds, three potions of lesser restoration, a scroll of shadow conjuration, and an ounce of stone salve, all carried in a handy haversack, which Aiyana informs you is also part of the payment.

I don't think it really matters who's carrying the lesser restoration potions, but maybe give the potions of CMW to those who don't have access to healing? I always like to give stone salve to those with the highest Fort save since they're least likely to get it petrified with them. I don't think anyone else can cast shadow conjuration? (If not, I'll take it, but if someone else can use it, let's let them hold it because I've already got it in my spellbook.)

Highest Fort save looks to be Bastian at +11. I’m fine with carrying it.

Other than that, I’m pretty well set with healing potions and weapons. Already have a mw dagger, but will stick the mithril in my wrist sheath as a backup. Mostly in case we need to overcome DR.

I have some leaser restoration potions already. Happy to share...

@Neil - all good here. At a course today, so no posting for the next 8 or so hours...

I bought a wand of cure light, so I don't need to carry any potions. Bards have shadow conjuration on their spell list, so I can use the scroll, but I think it's better to let Daehalya keep it.

Do we want to make a loot list (not sure if it's as necessary in a module as it is in an entire PBP, but happy either way)?

Let's solidify who's carrying what? I'll take the scroll and carry a potion of CMW and lesser restoration. Adding all three to my character sheet now.

That leaves two of each remaining; Lesska and Lydia, why don't you each take one of each potion too? Then we'll have everything distributed and should be in good shape for everyone.

I will add the potion to my inventory.

Lesska already has 5x cmw and 2x lesser restoration...

OK, I'll take two of each? I think we're probably going to have more than enough healing. :)

I'm going to remember you said that... ;)

FYI, I'll be moving the action further along layer this evening, as I think we've set these initial scenes fairly well. Feel free to continue the intraparty role play until then, however.

I'm going to remember you said that... ;)

Ooops. Sorry, all. I should know better ... :)

Oh. I thought we already insta-won. Twice.

Since we've had a few days together, I imagine we've talked enough that I feel OK adjusting my prepared spells.

I could do another darkvision if anyone wants (alternatively, since we have enough people who won't have darkvision, I could simply not prepare that at all); also, if Suetonius has brightest light prepared, I'll probably trade out daylight.

If I'm scouting ahead with Ailis, I could benefit from a darkvision spell. That way, we could move without revealing our presence with a light source.

OK, I'll cast it on Lydia and myself when we go in. It'll last 8 hours.

Seeing as I haven't specified otherwise, Lesska will most likely have designated Ailis as her ward for this day. Lesska's gets and grants abilities based on who her designated ward is. Feel free to check her abilities at the bottom of her profile.

Question is, moving forward, should I keep it that way, or should I change it to Daehalya as the nominated squishy, or Aiyana as the designated...person we need alive to complete the mission, roleplayed tacit denial of needing a bodyguard notwithstanding?

Seeing as I haven't specified otherwise, Lesska will most likely have designated Ailis as her ward for this day.

I'm aware, and my assumption was you'd be guarding Ailis until you indicate otherwise.

Question is, moving forward, should I keep it that way, or should I change it to Daehalya as the nominated squishy, or Aiyana as the designated...person we need alive to complete the mission, roleplayed tacit denial of needing a bodyguard notwithstanding?

Totally up to you and your fellow players. Just let me know when and if you decide to change it. There may be circumstances during the game where Lesska will be incented to do so.

Looking just at the rules stuff (i.e. not what makes sense for the character, which I think certainly early on is Ailis):

It looks like you have potentially two wards.

I think it might eventually make sense to have Daehalya be the object of your order of the guard ward that you have to pick at the start of the day. You'll usually be between her and the enemy (I hope!), thus giving you the bonuses. We don't really know how Aiyana will act in combat yet -- if she stays out of melee, she also becomes a viable choice here.

The resolute defense ability makes much more sense if the ward is Ailis or someone who'll be up in combat as you'll want to be adjacent to them (and presumably up in melee-ish area yourself), and it looks like you can pick that anytime you declare a challenge. If Aiyana gets into melee, she definitely seems like a good choice for this ability.

(And of course, you'll still have Bodyguard for another boost for whomever is near you.)

By the way, the strength-based heavily armored fighter who specializes in trip and disarm would like to thank all the module authors for making the first fight be against unarmed incorporeals who do STR-damage with their touch attacks.

Thanks a bunch, fellas :-)

By the way, the strength-based heavily armored fighter who specializes in trip and disarm would like to thank all the module authors for making the first fight be against unarmed incorporeals who do STR-damage with their touch attacks.

Thanks a bunch, fellas :-)

As one of those authors, you're welcome! :)

Excuse me GM, but everyone has Combat Reflexes and can take AoOs while flat footed.

Right you are! I went looking for Combat Reflexes on everyone's character sheet and forgot about your war chant ability granting it to everyone. Rather than retcon it at this point, I'm going to play out the current round (because the creatures won't get another action) and then I'm going to rule that the Strength damage to Suetonius was only temporary (i.e., he'll shake it off and the damage will basically be negated). That way, story-wise, the scene still serves a purpose as a warning of the danger these creatures pose...

Friday afternoon here in Australia, sorry for any delay - I should be able to post in a few hours....

FYI, I'm headed out for a mostly all-day birthday event for my 6-year old son, Noah, today. I'll check in from time to time on the game thread with my phone, but likely won't be posting from it. So, feel free to continue the intraparty roleplay and recovery from your first combat. I'll look to move the action along when I get home later this evening, assuming you guys enter the tomb.

FYI, I'm headed out for a mostly all-day birthday event for my 6-year old son, Noah, today. I'll check in from time to time on the game thread with my phone, but likely won't be posting from it. So, feel free to continue the intraparty roleplay and recovery from your first combat. I'll look to move the action along when I get home later this evening, assuming you guys enter the tomb.

Happy B-day to the little Spice Boy.

So what's the verdict on the binding darkness? Is it not worth it? My thought was if there are multiple foes, it could let everyone concentrate on the other briefly (or that at least two or three of our combatants wouldn't be hampered by its concealment), though I was also thinking it would presumably give everyone concealment and my guess is most of the things we're going to face here will have darkvision so not be hampered that way.

In my opinion the best use of binding darkness is that it decreases movement speed. It's very usable against an enemy who the party has not yet engaged in melee, as it can deny them a full-attack.

@Daehalya - I think your summation is valid - good to keep the/a foe we aren't focused on yet held. And Ailis seems to make a good point too.

Hey friends, tomorrow I will be on an airplane all day long and so will not be available to post. Then, for the next two weeks I am only likely to have one opportunity to post each day. If I slow down, that's why.

Hey, folks! FYI, I should get a new post up tonight for everyone.

Hey all,

Just FYI, tomorrow is my last day working evenings, before I switch to a Sunday-Thursday day shift at work. I'm not quite sure how that will affect my posting rate. I don't plan to go anywhere, but especially as I get used to my new sleep schedule, I may be a little haphazard at first. I'll try to keep up (especially since the games I play in usually don't need quite as much time to post as the ones I GM), but apologies in advance if I'm a little slow at times.

I need a general consensus and concrete actions before I move the game along. Just let me know what you collectively decide and what you choose to do.

I'll be drinking potions of enlarge person and bull's strength. Pretty sure Bastian will be doing the same.

I don't really have preparations to make.

Is resilient sphere dismissible?

@Ailis: Well, it has the (D) designation, which usually means that it is...?

I'll be drinking potions of enlarge person and bull's strength. Pretty sure Bastian will be doing the same.

Correct. After buffing, Bastian will take up flanking position and ready an attack as soon as the sphere is dismissed.

I don't really have preparations to make.

Casting haste before we release Haramil will be appreciated. Also, bardic performance, obviously.

Sure. Thats why i asked if it was dismissible. If it is, we can choose what round to start combat on ourselves. Since it is, i can buff the paty on the same round as Daehalya gets rid of the sphere.

I'll toss out a Bless, as well :-)

I guess I'll flank with Bastian, if possible given enlarged reach. Is there room Neil?

Off to sleep here in Oz, so there might be a delay while I do that AND try to work out all my relevant bonuses and penalties...

Where would people like me, considering it seems like it's going to make a beeline for me? I could be right behind Lesska, or a little farther away...

Right now, I'm thinking I'll use one of my scrolls of mirror image, and then have my sword our and take total defense, as I don't think I have too many more spells that will be effective.

Also, this whole getting up early thing stinks.

Where would people like me, considering it seems like it's going to make a beeline for me? I could be right behind Lesska, or a little farther away...

Right now, I'm thinking I'll use one of my scrolls of mirror image, and then have my sword our and take total defense, as I don't think I have too many more spells that will be effective.

Right behind (large-sized) Lesska, at least 10 ft away from it, sounds good. If it goes after you, it's going to eat a crap-load of AoO's from the rest of us.

Also, this whole getting up early thing stinks.

Could be worse - at least you don't have kids... :-)

Well, I think we're ready, yes?

I'm not sure. You guys have had a lot of discussion about preparations and the need to take out the enemy now rather than leave it behind you, but I haven't seen any concrete actions posted for your characters yet...i.e., Daehalya would need to purposefully drop the spell. And, if others are going to drink potions, cast spells, etc., indicate what you're doing in-character so it's official before the fight starts/resumes.

I guess if that's your stance as GM, I will post some readied actions on my lunch today.

Actually, I thought I would put it aside but I think I should say something.

Spoilered for lack of clutter.