Also, @DMLC, not to be nitpicky or anything, but it seems you have indicated in your post that Mihaela is doing the charades and diplomacy, rather than Yelena.
I'm sure we're all literate enough to know what you mean, just thought maybe I'd point it out.
This is what I get for being a night owl AND a late riser.
Alas, Yelena's diplomacy is only +4, not +7. Would that have affected the information they gave?
I am also EST, and tend to do most of my posting at work. Evenings are trickier, depending on what else is going on.
ACK. Let me go see if I can still edit.
Well done, my friends. You have passed your first test. I applaud your attention to detail. Of course I meant that Yelena was doing the charades, and no, her +4 is still sufficient for her to achieve the desired results.
Keep a wary eye out, however. This will almost certainly not be your last test...
Eastern Europe, GMT+2 or 7 hours ahead of the US east coast. I post when I have an odd moment, so I can pop up any time between 8 AM and 11 PM here.
Walter has nothing to do ATM, and that's okay. He's watching the charades, occasionally casting a nervous glance over his shoulder.
Walter has nothing to do ATM, and that's okay. He's watching the charades, occasionally casting a nervous glance over his shoulder.
Same. However, I reckon anyone with good enough Diplomacy (or Bluff? Since it's used to convey secret messages?) might try and play Pictionary with the guys (they seem good at it!).
I suggest we don't linger too much, however. We might not be in immediate danger (as whatever was summoned, went out from where we came in and didn't return — the same way, at least), but who knows what else lurks down below? And as Yelena pointed out, we just made a lot of noise.
P.S.: I'm in GMT+1 (6 hours ahead of EST)
EDIT: moving on, it looks like nothing short of darkvision will work after a certain point, and any source of natural or magical light would obviously foil any attempt at stealth... So, out go the torches while we switch back to a more compact marching order?
Map updated. Def check it to make complete sense of the setting description. Feel free to change your marching order, but don't stress it.
Mihaela, your invisibility has worn off.
You've now been underground for about half an hour.
I can put away the torch but I won't be able to see; can't speak for Yelena but I won't be able to see, so that might alter marching order.
Should have picked a race with darkvision...
EDIT: Wait we have until the second fight to make changes, right? (Joking)
Going by
Glowing fungus grows thick on the walls, bathing the cavern in ugly hues of purple and pale blue.
I assume there's now enough natural light for low-light vision to work even without external sources of illumination?
If it's so, Mihaela would probably want to scout ahead...
Heads up, I'm going to be MIA for the rest of the day, maybe more. My dog pooped and got it everywhere in the apartment so gotta clean that all up, wash blankets and bedding, etc. Will get back when I can. Feel free to move forward botting me if necessary.
I have darkvision so I can be up front. I can also cast light if it helps. Combat game plan is generally get divine favor up for the +2 to atk/damage/other buffs, position myself for making use of reach and 2 AoO's a round.
@Kolthis - Eugh, I wish you a speedy resolution. Pets are gross sometimes.
Maritine just wants to see without giving the party away. She can hang near the back for practicality and while I joked about it, I'm looking to see if there's some alchemical trick that will give her darkvision. I can get low-light vision if thats enough to get me through until the chamber. Otherwise I think the back where I can keep my light to a minimum might be best.
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I'm going to semi-apologize to DMLC for all those knowledge rolls but I mean, I have the ranks, INT is my stat, Maritine knows things.
To be clear, it sounds like Walter is heading right up to the altar and pool.
...yeah it does, doesn't it. Walter's a curious cat, what can I say. And weird Old Ones stuff is his jam. So he's marching forward, flaming staff in his left hand, ready to throw a Fireball from his right. Let them follow who will. (I guess Mihaela is right behind.)
On one hand, he's got one eye on the trees and another on the water -- I did say that.
Of course, on the other hand, Walter is nearsighted and easily distracted (+1 Perception) and not the quickest on his feet (+2 initiative). What can you do.
OK, no problem.
Rest of the team: Walter is striking out pretty immediately for the altar, walking speed. You have to take that into account with your follow-up posts.
I am not pleased at all. *rubs hands*
@Walter, can we keep OOC stuff in the Discussion channel?
Spoilers no good? Okay, I'll move it.
Speaking of which, she sees Walter heading straight for it, no pause to consider what dangers he might encounter. Reckless, overconfident...that was the Walter she knew.
His life was a shambles.
Every day was a gamble.
Orange Sunshine burned his mind up long ago
Every lesson he learned,
And any way he turned,
He found out was the wrong way to go
Now he wears shiny shoes,
He swears he's found Truth,
And all he's learned up to now has been a lie
He used to take acid,
And now he loves God,
But he's still got that look in his eye
[chorus]
Yeah, he used to take acid,
And now he loves God...
But he's still got that look in his eye.
Merci!
Day 2 of coming home to excessive amounts of poop in the apartment. Pets are fun, kids!
That sounds like a pretty crappy situation to be in.
I know, I know, the door's that way.
Best of luck!
Day 2 of coming home to excessive amounts of poop in the apartment. Pets are fun, kids!
New puppy? Sounds like a new puppy. Or a sick dog. Either way more luck for you!
Office Christmas party this evening (eastern European time) coming up in an hour, so Walter will be silent for the next 18 hours after that.
Bot me if needed. Should combat arise, Walter's first instinct will be to kill it with fire.
Gonna move things forward and assume Kolthis is trailing behind, thinking dark puppy-related thoughts.
Enjoy the party, Walter!
A former Soviet republic. There'll be lots of toasting, which is why you might not see me around until afternoon tomorrow.
If Walter has a chance to strike, he uses Burning Hands with a charge from his rod. Combined with his tattoo (+1 ECL) and a pinch of black powder (+1 damage) and a flask of oil (alchemical spell focus), that's 8d4+1 fire damage: DC 19 Reflex, plus one target gets set on fire if the save is failed. Then a move action to duck behind a meat shield, and yes he would eat an AoO in order to do that.
If multiple opponents or an obvious boss appear, it's the 7d6+1 Fireball, DC 20 Reflex. If things look truly dire, he'll add his overclock daily for +4 ECL to raise that to 11d6+1. That uses up his daily plus a charge from his rod, though, so it's a one-off in case of truly alarming emergency.
Of course, if he gets surprised and knocked out or grappled or whatever... well, I'll be back tomorrow!
I don't know why everybody's so paranoid and preparing for a fight...
I've updated the map to where you are all standing when Yarresh appears. Let me know if you'd be anywhere else.
The 'heat shimmer' (as I'm calling it) affects every square within 5 feet of the lake or the rivulet. Nobody is currently standing within the shimmer's effects.
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I don't know why everybody's so paranoid and preparing for a fight...
It's not like we're actually playing Paranoia...
OR ARE WE?
I have to ask: what is the group's stance on parleying with Evil creatures? The options being
Due to her background, Mihaela would strike against any creature she perceives as unholy or abominable before asking any question, but I don't want to be that player — so for the time being, she'd merely ready an attack.
Yelena is a live-and-let-live type of person; she usually prefers the diplomatic approach. Something being technically 'evil' isn't enough for her to attack it unless she knows it's actually hurting people.
That being said, Yarresh eating the dead cultist while threatening us is enough to put him in the 'must be stopped' category as far as she's concerned. She'll see what information she can get out of him, but has no intention of letting him go and wouldn't object to killing him immediately.
I don't know why everybody's so paranoid and preparing for a fight...It's not like we're actually playing Paranoia...
OR ARE WE?
Every game is a game of paranoia. Any denial of that can only (and thus will) be construed as further confirmation.
Yelena is a live-and-let-live type of person; she usually prefers the diplomatic approach. Something being technically 'evil' isn't enough for her to attack it unless she knows it's actually hurting people.
That being said, Yarresh eating the dead cultist while threatening us is enough to put him in the 'must be stopped' category as far as she's concerned. She'll see what information she can get out of him, but has no intention of letting him go and wouldn't object to killing him immediately.
Indeed — we're more or less on the same page then (as I mentioned before, due to her background and class Mihaela would be a bit more proactive in hunting down Evil, though nothing trespassing into blind zealotry).
(Also, and just to clarify, by capital E Evil I don't mean simply something that pings as such on detect alignment, but creatures/people which have blatantly performed horrible and heinous acts (or like basically anything mythos-related))
Yeah, Yelena definitely agrees that anything mythos-related needs to be burned. Luckily we have a fire-happy wizard :)
IC Maritine wants to gut Yarresh but knows to at least wait long enough to attempt to get something out of him via coercion or threats - I guess what Yelena said to an extent.
Given what we all think Yarresh is I'm not too worried about coming across as a group of murderhobos.
Alas, poor Yerresh, I fear you mean him ill.
GRARGH THESE DICE. I think every group of rolls I've made has at least one nat 1. It's not looking good for combat at this rate. ARGH.
Christmas Party ended early (before midnight), so there was time for a post before bed.
Team, let's see if talking to Yarresh in his own language is any help. Failing that... we ain't bringing him any dead bodies and we're not inclined to trade much in magic items. His claim that he has us surrounded doesn't really jibe with him being an outcast from his tribe -- and if there were a bunch of ghouls down here, they'd probably have snacked those bodies clean by now.
So I say we do one more cycle of talking and then we unleash some whoop-ass on him, with the only question being whether we want to just kill him or whether it's worth trying to immobilize, capture and interrogate.
What think you?
Works for me. Yelena's about run out of patience.
Indeed. And Mihaela never had much in the first place.
(I've readied an action should things go south while I'm unable to post.)
I'm probably shaken or something, but I'm all for murder.
As an aside @GM how bad does that intimidate roll hurt me?
It's purely cosmetic as we're not in combat and the rounds pass really quick - rp it as you wish ;)
The puppy is 7 months old, but hasn't done anything like this before. Afraid he might be sick. But, today was better luckily. Thank you all for being patient and understanding of the extended absence! I should get a post in tonight/tomorrow morning and be good to go as regularly needed :)
No worries Kolthis! Best of luck with the pupper.
Wow, everyone just burst into action yesterday!
Hope the puppy's fine, Kolthis. I think us beatsticks are stuck in a moral quandary anyway, so it's all fine to squint suspiciously and say nothing.
Diplomacy d20+11
DAMN
Walter has almost literally never tried diplomacy before! It is not his jam!
Who needs skill points when all that you roll are natural 20s?
You might want to lend Maritine your dice from time to time...
The puppy is 7 months old, but hasn't done anything like this before. Afraid he might be sick. But, today was better luckily. Thank you all for being patient and understanding of the extended absence! I should get a post in tonight/tomorrow morning and be good to go as regularly needed :)
Poor thing! I'm glad to hear he's a bit better now!
You know what's impressive? The module set the DC for that diplomacy roll at 30.
Pretty incredible.
So, question: Jerresh isn't going to reveal information until all have paid homage. Thus how long will Mihaela wait until she attacks?
She can choose to attack right away, interrupting Lys, in which case we'll go into initiative and maybe a surprise round.
Or Mihaela could wait to see how things play out a bit, giving the others time to post as well, including letting Lys say her piece.
So, question: Jerresh isn't going to reveal information until all have paid homage. Thus how long will Mihaela wait until she attacks?
She can choose to attack right away, interrupting Lys, in which case we'll go into initiative and maybe a surprise round.
Or Mihaela could wait to see how things play out a bit, giving the others time to post as well, including letting Lys say her piece.
No problem with the latter. She can wait until everyone has had time to react, and the ghoul has shared whatever information it’s got. My only concern would be the timer on her invisibility.
Jeez I'm late on the draw again - Post coming! Don't let Yarresh eat me!
Walter you took all the good dice I'm not ready for this!
Mihaela: It's been about fifteen minutes since you all descended into this dungeon complex. How many invisibilities do you have left?
And OK: we'll wait for the others to post assuming you're still invis.
Left things a little vague so that when the fight breaks out she's ready.