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

Game Master KingTreyIII

GM Xavier Kahlvet wrote:

Peter Zarr wrote:

The remaining animate dreams flyby and cast fear at assassins in green and blue, before ending each of their turns adjacent to their victims.

3 DC 19 fears from Cyan Animate Dream, Red Animate Dream, and Yellow Animate Dream using flyby attack to cast their spell out of range and then close. After the first one they should be shaken, which given them a minus two on the next two. If they're not shaken after the first fear cone, then just use the two attacks (already rolled above, probably lines 3 and 4 since those would belong to the 3rd and 4th animate dreams, one on each).

And how do you plan on not hitting any PCs in the 30' cone-shaped burst?

I think the only way that avoids Hendric would be to cast from the square above Zanice(10') in a diagonal, since it wouldn't hit Marta (only down 5' at that point, and I suppose it could be angled more upward). We've already established they don't have combat reflexes (or declined to take the additional AoO), so assuming that isn't a problem. I've drawn the cone in. Note Arnaut would be protected by the resilent sphere. If my 3d geometry skills are failing please feel free to just have them take their normal attacks instead.

And the other two fears?

And the other two fears?

Flyby attack makes it possible because they can all basically do the same thing and then move to their final locations.

GM Xavier Kahlvet wrote:

And the other two fears?

Flyby attack makes it possible because they can all basically do the same thing and then move to their final locations.

Uh...40' fly speed. How did they move?

EDIT: Sorry if I seem to be nitpicking every detail, but the three fears would cause the assassins to basically be panicked with no save, which would effectively take them out of this combat (not that they were much more than a minor inconvenience to begin with).

So, Is black in range of Marta's fists, or if not that, then her spear? I assume she will have to use her spear, which means reactivating her bane on a different weapon :( Provided, of course, Marta gets around to going before Hendric.

I'd like a response ot this, or, alternatively, whether she could use acrobatics to hop on Sentry using acrobatics and get a flurry attack from there.

@Hendric, incase it matters for your action, there is no good place to put a wall up. I was going to try to do this on my turn and realized you can't put one up without getting it next to her. For wall of ice, this gives a reflex negates for the whole wall!

Thanks, will modify what he says.

If Sir Hendric were not who he is, he might have played it safe this round and not drawn the attention of the high priestess. But no, charging was the in-character option.

Something like Stinking Cloud may have worked to block her line of sight. But let's see if this attack hit. If it did, Jordan might do better do just full-attack her and try to kill her (looks like she might have cover against him, but I wouldn't think total cover).

Also, Sir Hendric is immune to Fear due to the Greater Heroism from the boots, but Sentry is not. Otherwise I'd have suggested catching us (and Black) in the Fear cones. A Charger archetype mount would have Stalwart at this point, although giving up Evasion would hurt a lot.

Yeah it looks like the fear cones just barely don't work out. That said, animate dreams can hit reasonably hard anyways :).

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

So, Is black in range of Marta's fists, or if not that, then her spear? I assume she will have to use her spear, which means reactivating her bane on a different weapon :( Provided, of course, Marta gets around to going before Hendric.

I'd like a response ot this, or, alternatively, whether she could use acrobatics to hop on Sentry using acrobatics and get a flurry attack from there.

Hmmm... Looks like my horse platform moved off. Is there anything she could hop up on to get a full flurry on black with her fists, or is it to be her spear?

Maybe Hendric charges after your flurry? I was going to suggest the resilient sphere but that doesn’t solve anything.

Marta, if you have the spear in hand and can full-attack with that, I would do so.

If you don't, then I would say doing a double move to join Sir Hendric in facing the High Priestess is better than getting only a single attack against Black.

Black isn't too threatening unless within 5' of one of us; if you move away (Withdraw and then Escape Route) he only gets one attack next round.

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

So, Is black in range of Marta's fists, or if not that, then her spear? I assume she will have to use her spear, which means reactivating her bane on a different weapon :( Provided, of course, Marta gets around to going before Hendric.

I'd like a response ot this, or, alternatively, whether she could use acrobatics to hop on Sentry using acrobatics and get a flurry attack from there.

Yeah, Black is too high to be a target for Marta’s fists.

Good enough. I will Have to use the spear! thanks for the response.

Sorry, all. Today has been hell for me. I’ll try to get something up soon.

Some of Jordan's arrows did hit, right? If you could update the init list with the damage on Saviya.

I did play a scenario that was sort of a clinic in how to deal with Mirror Dodge, and we eventually figured it out. Not sure that is quite what she has here, but feels familiar.

This scenario is really driving home how high level spells are Save AND Suck. Like Overwhelming Presence. Stalwart seems maybe even more important than Evasion at this level. Who gets it (or similar abilities)? Inquisitor, Unbreakable fighter, Green Knight cavalier, (sort of) Student of War... any items that can do that, even 1/day or just once period?

at the very least, I need to bump my cloak from +3 to +5 and probably get a horseshoe. It definitely wasn't an issue in 7-11 scenarios and my 12-13 was an Emerald Spire GM credit, so I forget how much things jump, especially playing higher tier.

Glad you’re feeling better Jordan

Thanks! Man, that was one of the worst colds I've had in a long time. Glad to be feeling better!

...Harm cannot drop a target below 1 HP...

I swear, THAT is the one thing about harm that I inconsistently forget about.

I didn't know if you were going to change Saviya's spell choice given that limitation, so I did not go ahead and post under the presumption that Sir Hendric was still up at 3 HP. He would have continued to press the attack.

But if you are writing up a finish, please do have him do that. He was up in the High Priestess's face tanking spells from her, so he'd like to get some of the final shots in along with Zanice.

I didn't know if you were going to change Saviya's spell choice given that limitation, so I did not go ahead and post under the presumption that Sir Hendric was still up at 3 HP. He would have continued to press the attack.

But if you are writing up a finish, please do have him do that. He was up in the High Priestess's face tanking spells from her, so he'd like to get some of the final shots in along with Zanice.

I know it's not the point of what you were saying, but the interesting thing is that Saviya is not the High Priestess. Any reference to her that I can find (which is pretty much just this scenario and the Adventurer's Guide) call her the "High Priest."

She's been true rezed a few times, but that shouldn't involve swapping gender. Maybe she used to be he through some other method?

Or maybe Priest is a gender-neutral term in the Church of the Mantis? Or Priest and Priestess have very different roles that don’t care about gender (aka Dealing with Dragons)?

Heads up - I will be spending the next week in a cabin in the woods with limited internet access. As a result of this, my posting may be somewhat delayed. Please feel free to bit me or delay me if needed and I will jump back in whenever possible. Thanks for understanding!

Do we have anything else to do at this point or should we be wrapping up the scenario and moving on to part 2?

Gonna give you guys 24 hours to make purchases, update your character, etc. before I start Part 2.

I also ask that folks please state what they're doing with their Day Job for Part 2 so that I have it on record.

I think some PCs are leveling to 14 after Part 1.
Anybody have any exciting new things they can do?

Sir Hendric's day job is Barrister. Probably he will be trying to keep himself and some others out of prison after this...
Profession (Barrister): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

I think some PCs are leveling to 14 after Part 1.

Anybody have any exciting new things they can do?

I know that Jordan and Arnaut are now 14 because I ran them through Eyes of the Ten and I know for a fact that they haven't played anything with those characters since then.

Marta too. I will get her leveled up soon enough. I don't think with an even level gain she will gain anything game changing, just except 5th level spells and an extra judgment per day.

She will be selling the amulet for 8000 gp and adding the cruel enhancement to her handwraps so she wont have to do all that swapping. For my own sanities sake.

Which leave 11K to play with...

Zanice will be replacing his talisman collection (life's breath for 3500, pentacle for 600, freedom for 900) for 5k. He will also be upgrading his cloak from +3 to +4 for 7k.

We have chronicle sheets?

Day job is the same for Part 1 and 2 - using downtime to regain one expended prestige via borderland keep chronicle boon.

Peter is leveling up to 15, if only I could keep getting levels of mystic theurge :)

Zanice will be replacing his talisman collection (life's breath for 3500, pentacle for 600, freedom for 900) for 5k. He will also be upgrading his cloak from +3 to +4 for 7k.

We have chronicle sheets?

Day job is the same for Part 1 and 2 - using downtime to regain one expended prestige via borderland keep chronicle boon.

At the very end of my previous post was a link to a google drive folder with all y'all's chronicles.

For part 2...

Player Name: Miteke
Character Name: Marta
Character Number: 141936-1
Faction: Liberty's Edge
Day Job: Caravan Vanity: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (1) + 32 = 33
Slow Track?: No

Peter is leveling up to 15, if only I could keep getting levels of mystic theurge :)

Speaking of which, how did you get to Mystic Theurge without reaching level 3 in cleric? The prereqs say:

Peter Zarr wrote:

Peter is leveling up to 15, if only I could keep getting levels of mystic theurge :)

Speaking of which, how did you get to Mystic Theurge without reaching level 3 in cleric? The prereqs say:

Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 3 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 3 ranks.

Spells: Able to cast 2nd-level divine spells and 2nd-level arcane spells.

Did you get your 2nd level divine spell from some other source? If so, spill the beans because the only reason I have not tried out the prestige class is because I thought you had to be level 6 before you could start.

Old rules and grandfathering. qualified for mystic theurge using the Spell-like ability faq (when it existing) using copycat as 2nd level divine spell (mirror image) and darkness as a 2nd level arcane spell and was subsequently grandfathered.

Jordan has increased his bow from +3 to +4. Jordan has also actually gained a 5th level slot (stupid 1 spell less archetype), but I'm probably going to be hesitant to use it, haha. Other than that, nothing special on the level up.

:(

Which means I cannot do it. Meh!

Marta has leveled up. Added cruel to the handwraps, got a snakeskin tunic and a ring of protection. Her init is bumped up by 1 as a result.

Pathfinding is my day job.

I have a question. I have two alternate characters available to play part 2 if you would like me to switch, both with chronicles from part 1 already.

The first is a 14th level Razmirian Priest Wildblooded(Sylvan) Sorcerer with a wolf animal companion. I'm happy to go with either, though I think we might want another full caster. He's also my -1 and the character I've played Eyes on.

The second is a 12th level Flame Dancer Bard, though I suspect we've enough Bards already.

I’d say play what you enjoy.

I will second that. I would not even worry about a surplus of bards if you want to play the Flame Dancer, as that archetype brings its own unique thing to the table.

As to purchases, given that we are facing an undead of unknown type, I am leaning towards scrolls of Death Ward and Anti-Incorporeal Shell. I hope that one of each is sufficient. Any thoughts?

I rather like the character you have. Having a cleric about when battling undead is nice.

As for spells, Disrupting Weapon might be nice for a cleric to cast on one of the PCs weapons. Ghostbane dirge, possibly mass, for those pesky incorporeals. Then there is Hallow.

Okay, Sir Hendric will make the following purchases for Part 2:
Scroll of See Invisibility (150)
Scroll of Death Ward (700)
Military saddle (20)

If there is an incorporeal foe, he will rely on Snake Style. The casting time of Anti-Incorporeal Shell is 1 round, which makes it subject to interruption (even from a scroll).

I'll switch over to the sorcerer then. I'll get his character sheet updated today or tomorrow as I've not played him in PbP. Will get an into up shortly.

If you’re going to swap to another character, then I ask that you fill out the check-in thing that’s on the first post in the Discussion thread for Bellamin as well.

Hendric’s idea of death ward is a good one. I’d also add that if you have the gold to spare a scroll of heal could come in handy. I’ll probably prepare at least two death wards (and one heal), but I don’t think there is a communal version of that spell, and I don’t have limitless higher level slots, so buying your own scroll is probably a sound investment. I also plan to prepare a communal air walk. Any additional new requests?

I could prepare a ghostbane dirge, but with undead having good will saves, it’s unlikely to land. Lots of damage seemed to work ok in the last scenario. Is there a spell to make weapons ghost touch instead?

Ghost salt is a very good idea for archers.

Ghost salts. Yes. Let me get some of those before we head to the lodge.

I've a scroll of heal and can use my own slots to cast it, though it takes a 7th level slot, so I've only a few. Same thing for Breath of Life, with 6th level slots and I'll be picking up a Death Ward and can use a couple of slots on it.

I really hate this website sometimes - it rerouted everything through so many pages, it just randomly drops messages, especially ones that took a long time to write...

Wow that is a really great archetype. I assume the caster level on scrolls and umds is whatever is on the item? Even still that’s amazing for a spontaneous caster.