Hellknight Hill: The Lost Ring

Game Master Joana

My thought is to use this trip back to town to pick up a new PC or two to join the party. Before I do that, though, I want to double-check with the three of you that are still here and make sure you're committed to continuing. My other game, I recruited two new players and introduced new PCs only for two more of the original players to back out right after I'd re-recruited; it was too much of a blow to momentum and to my enthusiasm for the game, and I ended it rather than re-re-recruiting.

So, barring unforeseen circumstances, are we all reasonably sure that we're going to be around for the next year or so? I know I've been a bit slower posting than advertised lately, but I have reason to hope I can get back on track with my son out of school for the summer.

Sounds good to me!
I'd be very happy to get back to at least two or three posts a week from everyone.

I'm available for continuing. And new recruits would be welcome. Sometimes, that can mess up the dynamic of the group, however, if the newer character concepts clash or the personalities struggle to find a good hook to generate intra-party camaraderie. So, I'd just encourage taking your time to find the right mix and background that'll weave them into the ongoing story. Other than that...game on! :)

Still here! Still happy to continue!

I mean, our last game went a while... so I guess I am good with commitments.

I have invited the last original player from my other Hellknight Hill game to bring their character over: a bard who is the daughter of the proprietor of the Wizard's Grace tavern. Between Jonagher's Wizard Dedication and her Occult spells, that ought to help cover the arcane role that Ren was filling.

Hi all! I'm the player mentioned by Joana above. I've been a regular on the Paizo PbP forums for about 5-6 years now, but her Bumblebrashers! Age of Ashes game is the only PF2 game I've played in...and I haven't really looked at the rules in the 9 months since that ended. It'll take a little time before I'm versed in the PF2 ruleset again, so I'm hoping other folks will help me. About all I can recall is that Darla sucked in combat but provided light and healing spells (via a spell that is NOT called cure light wounds...gotta research that again!). EDIT: {i]Soothe[/i]--that's the name of the spell! Remembered it without having to look it up!

I'm currently in a PF1 game with Crisischild, in which my bard is actually mentoring under the wing of his masked vivilante, the Raven. I know Neil by name only; Cradle of Night is like the only PF1 module I don't own, and I should have added it to my collection during the recent PaizoCon PDF sale. Maybe at GenCon.... ZetaGilgamesh...I got nothing, but I'm always happy for the opportunity to play with different people in forum games. Looking forward to getting to know your goblin PC better.

Congrats on defeating the gelatinous cube! I happened to see Joana's name in the 'Recent Threads in PbP Discussion' list and peeked in to see how her second AoA game was going and was afraid I was about to witness a TPK.

Anyhow, I'm excited to join your party.

:P

The cubeth was indeed scarieth.

Glad to have you along.

In the other party, iirc, the cube only managed to engulf one of the PCs rather than three, so it wasn't quite so fraught ... but I think he got to Dying 1 too before the others managed to free him.

We definitely need a bit more on the offensive side. But buffs from a bard will be a huge help!

Darla is a Breachill native, so she and Ragna would certainly know each other; how well is up to you two to decide. Jonagher has been away from Breachill for several years, but he would at least know the family if he's not familiar with all the children in particular.

Highness hasn't even been to Breachill yet, so he's new to everyone.

We're going to say that Darla completed a Call to Heroes task at some time in the not-too-distant past, details yet to be decided.

In the other party, iirc, the cube only managed to engulf one of the PCs rather than three, so it wasn't quite so fraught ... but I think he got to Dying 1 too before the others managed to free him.

I went back and checked. Initially, three PCs got engulfed, including Darla. Somehow she made her save against the paralysis and escaped by using her Hero Point. Our halfling rogue (Gethric) was paralyzed and nearly died. Our best fighter (Gellius) was initially paralyzed but overcame it and managed to attack the cube from within. Another player had to use a Hero Point as well. Plus, Joana rolled maximum acid damage (12 points) when the cube engulfed its three victims, so yeah--our encounter with it was pretty harrowing as well!

In the interests of getting Darla in the swing of things as quickly as possible, let's have the party run across her as soon as they get back to town. Then you guys can divide up however you want to cover your bases.

July is going to be a very busy month for me, so I'm going to pre-apologize for any posting gaps like the one I just had. I'll keep up the best I can and hope to post at least three times a week, but I am likely to be slower to respond than usual until August. At that time, I should be able to settle down into a regular posting pattern as my schedule gets back to normal.

Sorry for dropping off the face of the earth like that. I expected I'd find the time to pop in once or twice a week, but clearly that didn't happen. I have, however, made it through a very busy month of July and should be back to a much more manageable schedule for the foreseeable future. The town council is assembled, so let's forge ahead!

I feel like this is turning into a cut-scene where you're watching NPCs talk at each other. If there's not anything specific you'd personally like to discuss with the council, perhaps we should let Warbal stay and discuss town-Bumblebrasher relations while the party moves on to something else?

Is there anything you guys want to do in town other than rest, regroup, and head back to the dungeon? If not, we can summarize and get back to the action. I don't want to lose momentum here.

Yeah. I agree. At this point, it's more of an NPC interaction among themselves. We've given our report...for now. Before we start talking about the potentially bigger situation with Calmont and Voz, we need to catch up with Ren to see if he's learned anything from the bookshop. Outside of that, it's rest/resupply and then return to the citadel with Darla replacing Ren. Do we still have Shaserai around? He hasn't posted since Januargy, and I'm worried we'll have bigger issues without a healer in the party. If necessary, I could have Jonagher triple multi-class and pick up a Cleric dedication archetype, but I'd need two other feats from the Wizard archetype first (according to the rules)...so it would be awhile before I could afford that.

Yes, sadly, Amaranthine Witch seems to have disappeared from the boards as of January. Darla has some healing as a bard, but I think for now I'll bot Shaserai through the rest of the citadel. There will be a better place to introduce a new healer after Alak's ring is found and you're official Heroes (TM).

Works for me! There aren't any big shenanigans that Highness wants to get into at this time. Back to the dungeon!

Crisischild, are you with us? Ragna hasn't spoken up lately.

Yeah I'm still here... somewhere.

Long day. Description of the room coming tomorrow.

I may have been thinking in PF1 terms again with detect magic; it looks like maybe she'd need line of effect to detect anything inside the building.

This is true: in P2e, detect magic requires line of effect. It doesn't mean it's a complete waste of time to cast it, since something that's in sight may also be magical; you'd probably just want to remember to cast it again when doors/cabinets/whatever are open.

Also, in P2e illusions and magical hazards only "ping" to detect magic if they're low-enough level compared to the detecter.

OOC: I keep forgetting. Is that still a Perception roll or a Thievery roll? And, do I roll it or is it a secret DM roll?

Secret DM roll.

Is the 2pts halved? He takes half damage from falls due to unbreakable heritage.

Yes. It was 3 damage for falling 6 feet, and then I halved it ... but it should actually be 1 because I didn't notice P2e specifically says to round down when halving.

I really like Second Edition, but I do miss being able to use Acrobatics to jump down and avoid damage/falling prone.

Shaserai is basically an NPC now, right?

Correct. He'll stick with the party and provide healing until Alak's ring is found; then there will be an opportune place in the story to bring in a new healer.

In case I don't get back here until Black Friday, Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

In case I don't get back here until Black Friday, Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a general but heartfelt Happy Holidays to all!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Festivus and Happy Holidays!

Happy New Year!

And we've been playing for a little over 3 years (39.5 months to be more exact). Thanks for running the game, Joana! And Happy New Year to all!

Thanks for running the game, Joana! And Happy New Year to all!

Seconded...on both points!

May I suggest Shaserai and Ren go with Warbal to warn the Bumblebrashers? The undead will still be there for you to clean up when you're done, and I can give you my word as a DM that there won't be negative repercussions for not dealing with them right away.

In the Platonic Ideal of this adventure, the party's not meant to go back to town and discover the possible trouble at Guardian's Way until after they've cleared the whole citadel; but I have a player ready to join up with a druid when you guys head out to check on Neven Deckard, and I'd rather him be with you than me having to keep DMPCing Shaserai.

Sounds good to me. New blood!

Sounds good to me, too :)

Bring on the Nature Boy. Woo! :)

Sounds good.

Sorry I have been absent, was a hell of a week in the Emergency Room. I have many many notes to complete still.

Highness will go and finish up with the Bumblebrashers.

If it helps to know, this isn't the end of the Bumblebrashers' part in the adventure; the assumption is that the party returns to the Citadel before the end the book.

...stuff

"What an eccentric performance!"

Sorry; I've been distracted by the OGL drama for the last several days.

Let's have a breakfast meeting at the Tavern to get you guys officially Heroed up and assigned to go check on Neven; then Darla can do some investigating, Highness can consult with Warbal regarding the goblins, anyone else can do anything that needs doing around town, and we can get on the road.

Leaving the night watchman with instructions to direct the members of the council to the Wizard's Grace, the party repairs there themselves, leaving Darla to arrange breakfast for thirteen with her mother.

*grumble grumble* Caught that just past the edit window. Got too invested in counting out how many were invited to breakfast.

Website was down earlier when I was intending to post. Substantial update will come in tomorrow, getting everyone assembled at the tavern and the meeting underway.

Hello? Is the website updating?

No, sorry, you guys are doing a fantastic job with your report to the council. It's just been kind of a crappy week. I keep intending to update the thread and haven't been finding the energy for it. Posted now, though.

No, sorry, you guys are doing a fantastic job with your report to the council. It's just been kind of a crappy week. I keep intending to update the thread and haven't been finding the energy for it. Posted now, though.

Been there more times than I can count. I always appreciate you Joana.

I was just worried I had some cookie problem and I could not not see updates.

Here's all our loot so far. I assumed any scrolls found were the minimum level for the spell. Let me know if there's something you know I missed, or if there's a consumable you used. I'll keep a loot list at the top of Ragna's profile. Call out what you want to keep, since this seems like a good time to sell what we don't want.

Thanks for that. ^

I know Darla has a list of things she wants to ask around about before leaving town. Does anyone else have anything they want to do? Wasn't someone planning to question Calmont or was that something Ren was supposed to do while you guys went back to the citadel?

I don't recall who was to do the Calmont questioning, but Jonagher's willing. Rogue to rogue, of course. ;)