GM Xavier Kahlvet's Passing the Torch—Low Tier (Inactive)

Game Master KingTreyIII

Because of the uncertainty, and the fact that I've had some bad luck with teleports gone awry in the past, I vote for walking. I understand that it'll take a bit to do so, but our uncertainty can get us into a lot more trouble than the time is worth.

I do still need to know how each individual PC is planning on searching for the ruins once you decide on how you get to the Horn. (Mostly whether you search by foot or by flight)

Targets you and one touched creature per three levels

As a 6th level spell, the scroll isn't too expensive to supplement Pete's spell slots. Anybody got one of those flashy "give me this now" abilities? We'd get there within two hours and be able to search by flight? Worst case scenario we've gotta teleport somebody into a city capable of supplying that scroll.

I do still need to know how each individual PC is planning on searching for the ruins once you decide on how you get to the Horn. (Mostly whether you search by foot or by flight)

If we’re going to fly we’d need to all gain flight, and use a different cover story, because kobolds don’t usually fly.

Kobold sorcerers are not that unusual, and at least the two of us should be able to overland flight for scouting, etc.

What about wyvarans? They've got wings and look draconic (or at least reptilian).

Unless someone is going to put the entire party in the air, Arnaut is fine to walk. (Well, fine is perhaps a bit generous. I'm sure he'll complain loudly about the vegetation and lack of roads/whatnot.)

Kobold sorcerers are not that unusual, and at least the two of us should be able to overland flight for scouting, etc.

Peter is stealthy enough, particularly while invisible to scout. The rest could walk along as kobolds. Does that work?

Walking is fine. Marta will be searching by foot but looking for kobold trails (i.e. tracking).

Sir Hendric will strongly object to taking two weeks to go the slow way while Torch, the Red Mantis, the suspicious Decemvirate member, and whoever else have plans actively in motion.

The odds of directly teleporting into someone's line of sight in the wilderness, at a point "near" our destination 80 miles away, seems much less likely than the chance of being found out or tracked down in the next two weeks.

But the party has voted so that's that.

Walking is fine. Marta will be searching by foot but looking for kobold trails (i.e. tracking).

Thats a great idea!

Sir Hendric will strongly object to taking two weeks to go the slow way while Torch, the Red Mantis, the suspicious Decemvirate member, and whoever else have plans actively in motion.

The odds of directly teleporting into someone's line of sight in the wilderness, at a point "near" our destination 80 miles away, seems much less likely than the chance of being found out or tracked down in the next two weeks.

But the party has voted so that's that.

If we can just get a second casting of Wind Walk, we easily make it there within two hours. If not, Jordan does vote for teleportation. We do need to be quick, but Jordan's against teleportation if he can help it.

I've rolled a mishap before because of the uncertainty of where we were teleporting. It was NOT fun.

If we can just get a second casting of Wind Walk, we easily make it there within two hours. If not, Jordan does vote for teleportation. We do need to be quick, but Jordan's against teleportation if he can help it.

I've rolled a mishap before because of the uncertainty of where we were teleporting. It was NOT fun.

Ok so the idea is we’re kobolds including a cleric who uses wind walk to get us there. We can start walking today and tomorrow we can cast wind walk. I can provide one casting, how are we getting the scroll for the second?

Buy one in Ilizmagorti?

Who has the best Disguise? Arnaut, I think, at +18 with Heroism. Marta has a scroll of Disguise Self which could give a +10 on top of that (and Arnaut can use his Mnemonic Vestments to avoid using up Marta's scroll).

Except that, as per the Guild Guide, purchasing things like that requires finding agents of the Society in the city to hook you up, of which there are none in Ilizmagorti.

Someone could teleport to a city where we can buy things, acquire the scroll, and pop back.

Except that, as per the Guild Guide, purchasing things like that requires finding agents of the Society in the city to hook you up, of which there are none in Ilizmagorti.

So unless someone has a trick, we’re back to teleporting somewhere to buy and back, using two 5th level slots, with at least a 15 percent chance of a mishap (assuming we get viewed casually on teleporting back and very familiar for teleporting to the grand lodge).

I feel like we’re vastly over complicating our travel options. But this seems doable. If I miss on the first attempt I just try again to teleport back.

I will happily pay for the scroll (1,650?). To me, this is a far better solution than walking.

On top of the plots of Torch, and the Red Mantis, and whoever else, there is also the fact that the Whispering Tyrant is free. Sir Hendric wants to get us all (as individuals of legendary power who might be able to make a difference) done with this task and on to Gallowspire as soon as possible. There is so much need for urgency.

OOC, I know that it might make no difference for the success conditions of this scenario. And we can all still play Siege of Gallowspire during the next PbP convention with our PCs magically getting there in time no matter how long we dawdle.
But that's OOC; IC, spending two weeks traipsing through the jungle when there is a faster alternative would seem madness.

Ok so we’re agreed on a plan I think ;). I’ll wait until later tonight incase anyone objects and then post in gameplay.

So far its
1) break enchantment, leave city and walk until nightfall
2) prepare 2 teleports and wind walk, leave some slots open, teleport to grand lodge with hendric, purchase stuff, teleport back. If anyone else wants purchases, this would be the time. If you want to buy white clothes you can be mistaken for a cloud while wind walking per the spell. I assume these are a few gold.
3) cast veil and wind walk, and scroll wind walk
4) go to the landmark, the horn, (wind walking)
5) look for ruins (probably regular walking since we need to search for them)
6) profit?

I think you mean:

1. Don't pick up the phone - you know he's only calling 'cuz he's drunk and alone.
2. Don't let him in - you'll have to kick him out again.
3. Don't be his friend - You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the morning.
And if you're under him, you ain't getting over him.

;-)

I would agree that we're certainly over-complicating things (plus presenting multiple options for the castings of teleport to be detected), but let's keep things moving rather than get into another round of voting and discussions.

The rather artificial (but hugely impactful) transition from "Out of Combat" to "In Combat" is IMO the most awkward and poorly-implemented part of PF. And one component of that is the way that "They made us roll initiative!" can be seen as a hostile action, when the other side hasn't actually done anything yet. (A great situation to use readied actions.)

It was a PFS scenario, and some NPC was lurking in the shadows. The GM had us roll initiative and put the minis out. A PC cast Slay Living and had a familiar deliver it. Dead NPC.

Well, we weren't actually supposed to kill that guy. He wasn't going to attack us and hadn't actually done anything in-game. But he made us roll initiative, so he died. And this was not a generally murderhobo-ish player, just this time decided to "shoot snuff out soul first and ask questions later."

ah well. Hopefully my grovelling will make a difference, and it was tons of fun to write.

I mean, at least it wasn't Slay Living.

And I see Zanice is Reactionary. Totally in character.

I’d hope that sense you hedged in your post that the black tentacles doesn’t need to go off, since it would make our diplomacy attempts much more difficult.

Would it though, since the spell completely failed to do anything? Either way, I think it's hilarious.

Pete has a good plan. The summon doesn't need Coordinated Charge to trigger Marta, and Marta in turn will trigger Sir Hendric.
Except the GM is right about the immediate/swift action economy problem.
That means Sir Hendric cannot do an immediate action charge, cannot Challenge on his turn, and cannot use Tactician on his turn. He really should have Challenged last round but I didn't know if Red or Ruarat was going to be the target.

He will charge on his turn, triggering an immediate-action charge from Marta if she is in position to do so.
Also of note is that Sir Hendric has shared Escape Route, so Marta has it, so anything that Pete summons can provide a path for her through Solo Tactics.

Also, unless there is a wall in the way, Marta should be able to charge courtesy of dragon style and/or freedom of movement. Escape route will come in handy too. But would she be getting a full attack or just one attack? Last time she got hit by two AoO and two full attacks and it wasn't pretty. I'd love to get a full attack in myself before getting dismantled. It is totally not worth it to get in one charge attack just to be full attacked twice at -2 AC. I'd rather let them come to me.

Hopefully Rurat is grappled (and he is shaken), such that when Hendric charges you get an immediate action charge, followed by a full attack, assuming that you delay to his initiative. My thought was even if the web fails to grab, the difficult terrain will prevent red from attacking you as well. Zanice doesn’t have coordinated charge but can simply bladed dash in to full attack ( or Could have been placed adjacent per bard’s escape.

Rurat is eating at least two full attacks and a charge from Hendric and yourself. If that doesn’t drop him, I’d be shocked, especially since the animate dream crit him. Martas non-lethal here would be most welcome :) I’ve positioned myself such that I can divine intervention against crit threats and am in range for breath of life, should it be needed.

Zanice is unfortunately further than 30 ft from Marta’s original position, meaning Arnaut couldn’t reposition both of them.

Switched to what I think are optimal charge lanes.
Sir Hendric will not provoke an AOO on his 10' charge.
And then Marta will not provoke on her immediate-action 10' charge due to Escape Route.
And nobody is obstructed (unsure about that pillar near Pete, so moved us so it wouldn't be in the way).

Peter, you going to communicate more of what you learned about the mantis? It might affect our actions.

Yes, I was trying to treat it as a surprise round with limited option to communicate, will post more with this turn.

Great. I'll hold off on posting her action until then.

This is one of the things I love about this game. Fourth time I'm going through this adventure (one playing, the rest GMing) and while no group has been surprised by the mantises because each group had at least one person who could see invisibility one way or another, this is the first time a group has gone ethereal to fight the mantises there.

This is one of the things I love about this game. Fourth time I'm going through this adventure (one playing, the rest GMing) and while no group has been surprised by the mantises because each group had at least one person who could see invisibility one way or another, this is the first time a group has gone ethereal to fight the mantises there.

I too love the creative problem solving aspects of this game. Happy thanksgiving everyone. Hopefully the mantises enjoy the ethereal snacks we're offering :)

As many of you likely know, today is the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving. As such I’m basically calling today off—go be with your families, stuff your faces with turkey, and so on. We’ll be here when you get back.

Shaking my head. I beat all 4 of your rolls with a pathetic 8. Ugh. The team is not looking so impressive right now, at least the front-liners. Go spellcasters! (Hendrik, redeem us)

You say that, but literally only one of those attacks missed.

Marta - A.K.A. Telmar So-Melnop wrote:

Shaking my head. I beat all 4 of your rolls with a pathetic 8. Ugh. The team is not looking so impressive right now, at least the front-liners. Go spellcasters! (Hendrik, redeem us)

You say that, but literally only one of those attacks missed.

Actually a few more may have missed, because Arnaut has Inspire Greatness up on your taxis rather than inspire courage.

If there's no Inspire Courage, then take 4 off all the to-hit and damage rolls.

If there's no Inspire Courage, then take 4 off all the to-hit and damage rolls.

Oh...in that case they all missed.

Unless it was blinded and suffers from the loss of AC, then we're back in business!

Did his first attack have the circumstance bonus from bladed dash? The bonus was the same as the second attack.

I was rather hoping Marta would charge so I could get an immediate-action charge. As it is, will have to wait for next round.

Did his first attack have the circumstance bonus from bladed dash? The bonus was the same as the second attack.

Nope, I forget about that, probably because I've not played this character in a couple of years. In that case, the first attack has -4 from no bard but +6 for circumstance bonus from Int. Will take -4 to damage. So a total of 36 to hit and 30 damage including 4 acid, 2 electric, and 6 cold.

Marta seems to be under the mantis? Was that because it stepped over her after she moved? Should she get a chance to repel it?

In any case she's hoping for a flank so she'll let the Xills go first. Can she flank from under the mantis?

Oh and are the tar pits an issue on the ethereal plane? I'm betting not.

Marta seems to be under the mantis? Was that because it stepped over her after she moved? Should she get a chance to repel it?

In any case she's hoping for a flank so she'll let the Xills go first. Can she flank from under the mantis?

Oh and are the tar pits an issue on the ethereal plane? I'm betting not.

It stepped into your space after you moved; it's big enough for the two of you to occupy the same space.

No.

No.

Nothing surprising there.

The third claw would put Zanice to -4 and unconcious. Did the Mantis keep attacking him at that point or switch to a different target? I'd prefer not to pop my talisman if possible. 5 attacks only needing a roll a 6 or better is rough - it's why I normally have some miss chance, but went for offence this time.

[Dice=Stabilize]1d20+4

I’m going to go with that it still kept attacking you if only just to ensure that you were dead.

Also, unless the amulets are special, you can't choose whether or not they activate. 'Twas a shame when Arnaut's second one did nothing to prevent him from dying from strength damage.

Also, unless the amulets are special, you can't choose whether or not they activate. 'Twas a shame when Arnaut's second one did nothing to prevent him from dying from strength drain.

It was strength damage from a shadow, not strength drain. Same result, but it's different.

And Arnaut didn’t even get to be a spooky shadow for a time and scare the living daylights out of people before getting his soul forcibly vacuumed back into his body. I feel cheated.