GM Hawthwile's Scions of the Sky Key Series (Inactive)

Game Master Hawthwile

First off, thank you all for being willing to come on an adventure with me! Now, to business.

Please discuss amongst yourselves here which characters you would like to bring. Once you decide on which character you will be playing, post the following information here:

Player’s Name:
Character’s Name:
PFS #:
Faction:
Slow Tracking? (Y/N):
Day Job (Please roll now):
Special Notes/Abilities: Please describe anything unusual about your character here, such as “I always deal non-lethal damage and use the Enforcer feat to demoralize as a free action” or “I ride a Huge serpent mount, but it’s got both the Narrow Frame feat and a Belt of the Weasel so it can fit through a 5-ft hallway easily.” This will help both you as a player not have to type the same thing over and over again and me as the GM prepare so the game runs more smoothly.

Please have your entire character sheet available in your character’s profile page and basic statistics next to your name in your posts. Feel free to ask me for more details or assistance.

Expectations
- I will post every day. I hope everyone can post every weekday and at least once over the weekend, but stuff happens - which leads me to:
- I will bot you if we haven't heard from you in 24 hours. Please include botting instructions in your character profile, or I will have to get creative in the most entertaining (for me) way possible. Please also let me know if you are expecting an extended period of absence so I can PM you and preemptively hash out major decision points to keep the story moving. On a related note:
- I will make "reactive" rolls (such as some saving throws) to keep the story moving along. If you want to make a roll as part of an action/decision/etc, please do so. I might modify the skill used or add circumstantial bonuses/penalties based on circumstances. Which brings me to my final point:
- I will happily add circumstantial bonuses (or penalties) for roleplaying. I hope, for example, that you will accompany your diplomacy check with what your character is actually saying. It makes it so much easier for me to respond if you give me material, and we make such a more fulfilling and exciting story together.

If you're worried or concerned about something, post it here or PM me. We can figure something out so you have a good time.

In addition to making “reactive” rolls for characters, I also like to roll Knowledge checks for players so I can tailor what a character might remember about a creature. (For example, a fighter will probably care more about a golem’s DR while a wizard would remember that it’s immune to spells and an alchemist is super excited that it blows up when it dies.) If this will be a problem for you, let me know (either here or via PM) and we’ll work something out.

We’ll be using block initiative during encounters. Please discuss amongst yourselves how you can support each other and work together as a team - both in and out of combat. I highly encourage tactics such as:

McSwordFace waits until her friend Blessings Galore has a chance to cast a buff before she attacks the horrible people kicking puppies.

Sword of Justice: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 + buff if applicable
Justice damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 + buff if applicable

This helps us work effectively as a team even if posting schedules don’t line up in a beneficial way.

If your post is entirely OOC, let’s put it here instead of in the Gameplay thread.

About Me: I’ve done a bit of PFS and PbP GMing, but I am certainly not perfect. If you have ideas for how I could do something better, a disagreement with a decision, or confusion over what I’m saying, please let me know via the Discussion thread or PM.

Player’s Name: Steven
Character’s Name: Banon
PFS #: 3217-19
Faction: Grand Lodge
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job (Please roll now): Profession Trapper: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Special Notes/Abilities: Nothing special, save for being conservative with his rage to avoid Sudden Barbarian Death Syndrome. Reserving the right to reroll Day Job if I don't use it during the game. I will doublecheck his sheets tonight and see if he needs updating. Stats should be correct but there might be purchases to make.

Player’s Name: Jack Brown
Character’s Name: Alaric (and Shredder)
PFS #: 788-27
Faction: The Concordance
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): Y
Day Job (Please roll now): n/a
Special Notes/Abilities:
Alaric is a druid, and has a deinonychus familiar. (I have a separate alias for Shredder}
He often will wild shape into a deinonychus as well.
I have botting instructions on each of the aliases... which is usually "Shredder Attack!" :D

I do have a campaign coin, so is available for another player who does not have their own reroll (or has less than 5 stars). Note: you still only get one reroll per session.

Alaric and Shredder tend to take point when they can. Since this is CORE, Shredder does not have the Flank trick, and I have played it that he always charges straight at whichever target he is sent after, or sees first. Alaric will do what he can to get/give flanks, especially so that Tere can get his sneak attack damage.

Alaric tends to give Shredder charges from his mage armor wand (and himself as well), though he cannot trigger it himself. He also will have a Greater Magic Weapon for both Shredder and Alaric (+1 for all natural weapons).

Alaric does have natural spell, so he can cast while in wild shape. However, if someone could keep a spell component pouch for him, that would be handy.

Player’s Name: Eric
Character’s Name: Thran
PFS #: 13475-24
Faction: Grand Lodge
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job (Please roll now): Perform: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Special Notes/Abilities: as a CORE bard...I don't think I have anything that's too special. With a team of melee fighters I mostly default to I start/sustain inspire courage.

Please join us in our google hangout as well.

Thran, don't sell yourself short. Your inspire courage has put us over the edge more than once. Plus, now you have Heroism and Glitterdust! And you talk real pretty, too. Alaric tries, but he's still more at home in the Mwangi Expanse, talking to trees and critters.

Player’s Name: Andrew Watson
Character’s Name: Telka Ibn Jad
PFS #: 44523-41
Faction: Grand Lodge
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): No
Day Job (Please roll now): Forgone to manage his rebellion contacts
DC5 Loyalty check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Special Notes/Abilities: Telka is a cleric of Desna. He has the travel and luck domains so his speed is 40' in full plate armour with longstrider active. He likes to hand out bit of luck to people. He is almost entirely hopeless at hitting things, he tends to hang about providing a flank, casting buffs or intentionally provoking from enemies so allies can move about more easily.

Thanks for having me along on this romp. I'll try to get my PC's info posted tomorrow. Btw, I've played this 3-parter before (in classic) and will of course be careful to avoid any spoilers.

For the sake of full disclosure, I played this when it first came out in regular mode.

I have played and run this in regular

Likewise.

Alright, hands up if you have not run and/or played this series before. ;-)

Thran puts his hands down in his lap and whistles innocently.
Just to make it complete (and I had to look this up because I couldn't remember) ..I also played this in Standard years ago

But I don't think I'll be able to spoiler much since I can't remember what happend

The elf slowly raises his hand, looking around at the rest of the party.

...

...

So, looks like Tere is going to be making a lot of judgment calls for the group!

Player’s Name: Abraham Z.
Character’s Name: Jethro
PFS #: 100198-7
Faction: Dark Archive
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): No
Day Job (Please roll now): n/a
Special Notes/Abilities: 1) Jethro always acts in a surprise round; 2) Diviner's Fortune: 8/day give a +1 (insight) on all d20 rolls for 1 round - since this is a standard action to activate, I'll mostly use this for skill checks out of combat, so everyone should feel free to use this if they are making a skill roll.

I should be ready to go now.

Player’s Name: John Woodford
Character’s Name: Tere di Montefeltro
PFS #: 67750-11
Faction: Liberty's Edge
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job (Please roll now): Perform (Dance) check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Special Notes/Abilities: Bleeding attack, fast stealth, uncanny dodge

Could someone copy the full text of the Aspis boon here in a spoiler for me? My question is whether the penalties apply only to opponents targeting/targeted by the holding character, or if they would apply to everything all the time. I'm pretty sure they won't stack with each other unfortunately.

Thanks! Unfortunately, it doesn't clear up the first question. Anyone else seen this boon in action? Previous rulings on the matter?

I can check the GM discussion. It looks like it applies to any encounter with an agent.

Edit: Nope, no clarification.

Yes, this is the same boon that I have and it's definitely clear that they don't stack with each other. My reading of the boon is the latter (it's just a flat -1 across the board to all Aspis all the time) but if you feel it's ambiguous I'm very ok with however you wish to rule it. Either way, it's a very powerful boon, but it's also a reward for seeker level content so I think that was the intention.

Sounds good, and knowing that it's a Seeker boon makes me feel better about applying it across the board. Thanks for the heads up!

Fyi, traveling until Sunday night and I forgot my charger. May or may not be able to post. Please bot me as needed.

Given how many folks are busy with ThisCon and ThatCon, I'm relaxing the botting policy to give folks a bit more time to post. We'll be back in full swing next Monday (5/27).

On family vacation through Saturday, June 1. Will post when I can but please bot me as needed.

I am away at a convention from this afteroon until Sunday evening, feel free to bot me if needed.

Copied over from Gameplay:

Alright, I would like the opinions of our resident Venture Agents and experienced GMs. Telka's Strength is now 3, meaning his maximum load is 30 lbs. Given that his full-plate alone is 50 lbs, his handy haversack is 5 lbs, and his heavy wooden shield is 10 lbs, he is technically past what he could lift off the ground (60 lbs). However, he is a dwarf and thus has the following racial trait:

Dwarves have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance.

Is Telka stuck to the ground unable to move from the weight of his gear, or can he ignore the penalty for carrying more than his maximum load? Let's take this to the discussion thread - I would love to hear your input.

I'd rule he can move at full speed without having to spend the full round, but loses his Dex as the compromise between the two extremes. I'm not sure that Slow and Steady is supposed to prevent dwarves from being overloaded at all or just remove penalties below maximum load.

I would hold that I am unable to move but am otherwise able to act and defend myself. I may well be prone from the weight certainly. Otherwise you end up with ridiculous situations.

Just as a note, I am currently carrying a total of 77lbs of equipment, which is just under my maximum of 80lbs when not ray of enfeebled. I do keep quite careful track of encumbrance, especially with very low strength characters.

This is one of those areas where I would go with whatever ruling the GM feels comfortable with. If it were me, I would rule that your speed is unchanged (dwarven slow and steady) but you can't actually move until you drop some stuff, because you can't move more than your max load. (Actually, technically I think you can drag more than your max load, so maybe he could drag himself on the ground!).

It seems like he would suffer every penalty except the one to his movement. So armor check penalties and max dex to AC from being encumbered by a heavy load..but he can still move around at speed 20.

Sounds odd, but since he's not at str 0 and unconscious it's hard to keep a sturdy dwarf down

Alright folks, we're almost at the end of the scenario! To that end:

- Double check that you rolled your Day Job or Faction/Boon/Alternative Downtime action
- PM me your email address for potential BOONS!!!

Since this is being reported under the Online Support Program, I need everyone's email addresses before I can report the scenario. If you are not comfortable giving me your email address, please let me know via PM.

For GDPR reasons, I would prefer to not put email addresses in a publicly-accessible location.

My email is public facing, so please use steven.schopmeyer@gmail.com

Chronicle sheets can be downloaded here! Post a note in the Discussion thread when you're leveled up (if needed), made your purchases (if any), and ready for Part II!

Additionally, this is a perfect time to check in with everyone and see if we need to make any changes moving forward. I'd love to get feedback on my GMing and playstyle - either here or via PM. Specifically:
- What has been working really well?
- What has been frustrating?
- What could be done better?
- What has ben really fun or enjoyable?

Leveled and ready! (Barb3 doesn't come with a lot of choices as the 4th.)

Chronicle looks great and I've been very happy with the GM-ing and playstyle. I feel like Jethro is still a little boring - partly the perennial troubles of low-level wizards and partly I'm still discovering his personality - but the game itself has been great.

I'm buying a new wand of magic missile (750 gp), an antitoxin (50 gp), and a new tanglefoot bag (50 gp), all noted on the chronicle sheet for 6-12).

I'd also like to check a Dark Archive faction journal box for "During the course of an adventure, acquire a unique magic item and deliver it safely to the Pathfinder Society" for Sharrowsmith's handy haversack.

Jethro is ready to go!

Chronicle looks fine, I have thoroughly enjoyed things so far. If there was anything it would just be that I like things to move faster but I know that isnt always possible in PbP games.

I will need to take the next part on slow play or I will level out.

Chronicle looks good. For the next two parts, Tere is going to Slow advancement. Purchases: two more doses of antitoxin (100 gp total).

Chronicle looks ok, Thran isn't lvled yet..but I think after the next part he'll hit 5.

No comment on the style of play other then that I'm enjoying myself

I’d like to thank the die roller for this lovely string of failures. XP

Truly. At least Tere and Thran have high enough bonuses that even those cruddy rolls can still aid.

For my convenience, could everyone provide the following information pertaining to THIS (PFS #6-14 Scions of the Sky Key, Part II: Kaava Quary) chronicle sheet:

Player’s Name:
Character’s Name:
PFS #:
Faction:
Slow Tracking? (Y/N):
Day Job (Please roll now):

Player’s Name: Steven
Character’s Name: Banon
PFS #: 3217-19
Faction: Grand Lodge
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job (Please roll now): Profession Trapper: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Player’s Name: Andrew Watson
Character’s Name: Telka Ibn Jad
PFS #: 44523-41
Faction: Grand Lodge
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): Yes slow track
Day Job (Please roll now): Use to roll a loyalty check for a chronicle boon
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Player’s Name: Eric
Character’s Name: Thran
PFS #: 13475-24
Faction: Grand Lodge
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job (Please roll now): Perform 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Doh, so it does.

1d10 ⇒ 5

Thankfully still passes. I thought the DC seemed very low at 5.

Player’s Name:Jack Brown
Character’s Name: Alaric Ysande
PFS #: 788-27
Faction: Concordant
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): Y
Day Job (Please roll now): n/a

Player’s Name: John Woodford
Character’s Name: Tere di Montefeltro
PFS #: 67750-11
Faction: Liberty's Edge
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): Y
Day Job (Please roll now): Profession (Dance): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Player’s Name: Abraham Z.
Character’s Name: Jethro
PFS #: 100198-7
Faction: Dark Archive
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job: none