Sorry, I've been finding it hard to get time to post - catching up now.
Busy, busy... will try to find time to post tomorrow...
So, to clarify: Alua just said you were digging for artifacts, there was a (presumably natural) collapse, you dug yourselves out, found your camp raided (the sergeant assumed it was the work of some local goblins/hobs who disagreed with your presence and you didn't mention this out because a hobgoblin was doing the asking). That made sense, you had to contraband, all well and good.
But now Erix dropped the hint that there was something dangerous in the ruins. And that you at least know more than Alua let on. Which would put Alua's earlier explanation under doubt as well. So she wants to get to the bottom of the issue ASAP, to make sure Erix's "instincts" were only that and not veiled hints that he very well knows some horror is lurking under the surface. After all, if some big nasty was woken by your digging, it's her people the thing is going to go for.
Rats, posted before I read this. Oh well....
Situation is by no means unsalvageable, but you need to provide the sergeant information about the threat Erix hinted at, and preferably make it not sound like you were at fault for waking some slumbering elder horror and giving some reason why you "forgot" to mention this little detail earlier :-)
Sorry everyone - but blame Lupi - she guilted me into it
;)
Right, and who indeed could say an extra pair of arms would be so bad? Just imagine the possibilities - holding a book properly in two hands AND AT THE SAME TIME a drink in one hand? I call that an improvement.
Sorry everyone - I figured Erix was feeling guilty about not telling anyone demons are tunnelling up from the centre of the earth.
Guilt, the emotion that keeps good characters good ;).
And think of all the sports you could do with four arms, boxing, wrestling... :)
Sorry, Lupi's silent "diplomacy" worked a bit differently than I expected, but this encounter just took an interesting turn :).
Aye, and do not forget the old saying about no good deed ever going unpunished ;^)
I'm normally more of a fantasy than sci-fi person, but I just read one of Martha Well's Murderbot Diaries books, and it was a lot of fun. Turns out it was number 4, so now I need to go back and read the first one. I recommend.
Thanks, I actually wanted some new book recommendations. Finished Sanderson's Rhythm of War and Hamilton's finisher of his Salvation series some time ago (loved both, particularly Sanderson's Stormlight Archives one), found the latest in Dresden files from a local store (had missed it when it came out), but those won't carry me far and while I do enjoy rereading a good book, finding a new one is even better!
Hey Kirsdrake, I pm’d you. Don’t know if you saw it. I was hoping to have that info for when I post later tonight
Oh Dresden, I love you so. I reread the whole series when the last book came out. So good! I haven't read Stormlight Archives, I'll check it out.
There was a book I read a while ago, I think you may have recommended it, something about cities way up in the sky, and air battles?...sound familiar? Only book one was out at the time, and I remember liking it. I can't figure out the name or author.
Also, another amazing book is The Fifth Season, by NK Jemisin. The first book blew my mind, and I'm anxiously awaiting #2 from the library.
Phin, thanks for the heads up, just replied to you. And Alua, thank you for another recommendation:-) Cities in sky + air battles only brings Aeronaut's Windlass to mind (also from Jim Butcher). And if you want something to really last you a while, and don't mind physics-heavy space opera... there's always the whole of Honorverse to explore!
Yes! Aeronaut's Windlass. I knew it was by somebody I loved, but I was thinking Erikson or Tad Williams or somebody like that. And I'll check out the Honorverse as well. :)
After a rather short notice, I need to go to the cottage. No electricity, no heat and running water means one runs from the well to the cottage, before mosquitoes bleed one dry ;).
Please bot Lupi until Sunday afternoon.
Alrigty, enjoy all the little whining bloodsuckers you'll find there ;^) And I doubt much botting iwll be necessary since we are in a R&R moment here.
For the record, Erix's paranoia is exactly that - as a player I'm okay to split the group.
Thanks,
the good news was most of the bloodsuckers were gone, the storm on Tuesday blew them away.
the bad news was lots of the trees were gone too, the storm fell them...
Never seen anything quite like that... I guess it is the climate change... I really need to learn to use chainsaw...
Kirsdrake: I think we got into agreement on splitting the money minus weekly dues etc. Could you please inform us, how much we have money each?
I am totally out of map on expenses the agency has, but feel it would be good to equip Lupi before the inevitable Lightning Rail encounter ;).
I still remember the last time my PC travelled on Lightning Rail, that was bloody :).
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The Agency's weekly expenses are on the party pool sheet as well. But let's see...
- Loan interest, 50g a week. Total loan amount: 5200g
- Property tax for your office: 20g a month.
- Taxes, 10% of monthly income, for established businesses like your Inquisitive agency.
- Protection money to ensure Sebastian dosn't meet with a nasty accident: 20g a month
You didn't do any Agency business this time, so no need to worry about taxes (the Professor would be paying those in this case). So, you have been away from Sharn about 2 weeks assuming the Rail reaches it in schedule. That means 140G for loan interest and Sebastian's protection money (which you have NOT paid for the second week, as you were away and I do not recall you making any arrangements prior to leaving, so we'll just have so see how your former boss has been coping...), plus 20g for property tax (paid at the end of the month, so that ticks now). That's 160G spent on those.
Let's also take Baran's and Lupi's library adventure from these funds, so with the two of them doing research on two days (and Alua watching over them), that's 6G more. Then there's the common-level inn for two nights for 5 people, another 6G, and another 5G for meals. And a total of 20G for the Lightning Rail tickets for the party in economy-class seats.
That's a total of 197G you have spent (or earmarked for immedaite use upon arrival). Assuming you only cash in the letters of credit here, that means there's 503G to share, so 100G each, and let's assume you spent the remaining 3G for the bath house or some other small entertainment to make the division simpler. I will be removing those letters of credit from the party pool, so you should all add that 100G to your personal wealths.
That still leaves the unpaid wages from the expedition, but you need to get in touch with the Professor to get those (or take a look at the agency's account in case they have been paid there already).
Baran is going to start examining the coastlines and great lakes of Khorvaire for possible locations for the Tower. He's working under the theory that Phin's Tower is (or was) a real place. He will use a basic process of elimination given the information that Phin can give him from her dreams. Though his true suspicion is that, if this place IS real, it is probably a part of Xen'Drik. He will be better suited studying that continent at Morgrave he believes.
Baran has kicked 25gp back to the agency coffers.
I'll be camping from Saturday to Tuesday and may not be able to post. Bot Phin as needed.
Quick question: what terrain type is this? Hoping urban.
Umm... if it is anything, it almost has to be urban, yes.
Awesome! +2 to init, +1 cmb, +1 cmd thanks to Turfer.
What are the brown dots on the map? Other passengers?
And are there any emergency exits along the windows?
I'm assuming that the fire will be blocking our closest exit that isn't an emergency exit? Just wondering what Phin's options are to exit the car.
@Kirsdrake:
Question #1
I was updating Erix's AC for the mutagen and realised I didn't know what configuration he'd be in.
On the one hand he's lounging around, which suggests he is only wearing his leather armour. On the other hand if he's lounging on his gear then all his stuff is right there.
Normal loadout
(Leather armor, waveblade, sling, garrote, backpack)
His clothes suggest a man who makes a living through violence. Thick, hardened leather plates cover the most important vitals - breastplate, bracers, reinforced skirt and articulated backbone covering. The clothes underneath are hard to see - reds and greys that will blend into the dark. A wavy sword can be seen at his belt. Over all this is a thick hooded grey cloak, turning him anonymous in moments.
I'm thinking normal loadout, plus a hastily grabbed shield, his sword is still sheathed and all his other equipment is on one of the squares if he wants to grab something weird?
Question #2
what would be involved in grabbing and throwing a halfling? Grapple check as standard and then another standard to use the halfling as a missile weapon?
What are the brown dots on the map? Other passengers?
And are there any emergency exits along the windows?
I'm assuming that the fire will be blocking our closest exit that isn't an emergency exit? Just wondering what Phin's options are to exit the car.
Yup, brown dots are other passengers, noncombatants.
No emergency exits, the Rail is perfectly safe, after all. House Orien prochures say so.
The fire isn't blocking the door to the second economy class car. Yet. It might if if spreads. Or it might sputter out. Who knows what will happen? You could jump outta the window and try to catch one of the ropes the halflings used to get down from the roof. Just... don't miss if you try.
@Kirsdrake:
Question #1
I was updating Erix's AC for the mutagen and realised I didn't know what configuration he'd be in.
On the one hand he's lounging around, which suggests he is only wearing his leather armour. On the other hand if he's lounging on his gear then all his stuff is right there.Normal loadout
(Leather armor, waveblade, sling, garrote, backpack)
His clothes suggest a man who makes a living through violence. Thick, hardened leather plates cover the most important vitals - breastplate, bracers, reinforced skirt and articulated backbone covering. The clothes underneath are hard to see - reds and greys that will blend into the dark. A wavy sword can be seen at his belt. Over all this is a thick hooded grey cloak, turning him anonymous in moments.I'm thinking normal loadout, plus a hastily grabbed shield, his sword is still sheathed and all his other equipment is on one of the squares if he wants to grab something weird?
Question #2
what would be involved in grabbing and throwing a halfling? Grapple check as standard and then another standard to use the halfling as a missile weapon?
Leather armor is Light, so I don't have a problem a hard-boiled spec ops veteran might find himself comfortable in it. And at least one weapon would be within easy reach. Shield too. And since you didn't do too much in your previous round, I'm game with you having both in hand now.
Grapple at the very least, since it'd be an involuntary missile you'd be using. It'd really be in Awesome Throw territory here... grapple, then thrown attack with -4 (since you don't even have Throw Anything), the halfling would get an AoO in any case, and range would be quite short... the pirate in gear still weights an easy 50lbs. Would need both hands for it.
But it'd be awesome if you could pull it of by some miracle!
Right, givingmore thought to the halfling-hurling plan...would have to go something like this:
- grap target, success in a grapple attack needed, may provoke AoO if you don't have the improved grapple feat
- shift grip to faciliate throwing (seat of the pants and collar of the shirt, for example, although the halfling's flight vest does provide other grip opportunities)... will mean that you let go of his arms, though, so he'd be free to lash out at you, even if the positioning might be bad for his attack
- perform the drunken-patron-barroom-hurling maneuver. More a case of strength than anything else to throw the target away, but if you intend to hit any particular target an attack roll will be needed, and without the vital Throw Anything feat accuracy will be problematic. Range, too, won't be anything special, although Erix is strong... could be that you could hurl a halfling-sized missile several squares after all
Well, it has "burning" in the name, and fire generally does that ;^) Besides, I had already decided this was a possibility if someone decided to start flinging fire around. Can't have things remain too simple, now can I?
Oh crap, and I have a PC loaded with fire spells... I am starting to see, where this is going...
No emergency exits, the Rail is perfectly safe, after all. House Orien prochures say so.
They say so... well, then I would like to file a formal complaint to House Orien ;).
Well actually, I quite like this encounter already :).
Thank ye ;^) You might guess the next complication I have in store for you, as you saw that on the version of this campaign we played locally a few years back. Just act surprised when it happens, all right? ;^)
What are the brown dots on the map? Other passengers?
And are there any emergency exits along the windows?
I'm assuming that the fire will be blocking our closest exit that isn't an emergency exit? Just wondering what Phin's options are to exit the car.
Yup, brown dots are other passengers, noncombatants.
No emergency exits, the Rail is perfectly safe, after all. House Orien prochures say so.
The fire isn't blocking the door to the second economy class car. Yet. It might if if spreads. Or it might sputter out. Who knows what will happen? You could jump outta the window and try to catch one of the ropes the halflings used to get down from the roof. Just... don't miss if you try.
Out of curiosity, what DC would she be looking at to go out the window using the halflings’ rope? She’s not that desperate yet but it’s good to have options…
Thank ye ;^) You might guess the next complication I have in store for you, as you saw that on the version of this campaign we played locally a few years back. Just act surprised when it happens, all right? ;^)
Sure, Lupi knows nothing about it :).
Out of curiosity, what DC would she be looking at to go out the window using the halflings’ rope? She’s not that desperate yet but it’s good to have options…
Well... if you take your time to take hold of the rope first (you are invisible after all, for a moment yet), it's not that difficult. You'd have rope, but the Rail's metal walls are slippery. But the distance to the roof isn't great. DC 15 would get you there, I think. But if you really botch the roll... it would be a bit of a stretch to figure how Phin could survive a fall from the speeding train.
To clarify, because I think I may have incorrect understanding, can we climb over the seats or are there dividers between the seats that go all the way to the ceiling? I was planning to have Phin climb over the seats to get closer to the exit but from what you told Alua, now I don’t think I can.
The divider goes all the way to ceiling. It has some decorative woodcuts in it, to help air circulate and to look pretty, so you can see through it after a fashion, but if you want to move, do it along the central aisle. There is a sort of a shelf at just below ceiling height to store your luggage in, like in modern trains, and that does extend from one end of the car to the other, but there are obstacles (read, luggage, including your own) in there.
I'm just wondering where Phin intends to escape, in a moving train? From what, is obvious enough, but unless you deal with the robbers one way or the other, she will always run out of places to run to, if one of the two enemy parties have a chance to continue their run through the Rail.
Phin's escaping this train car would be more to find a better place in the train to make a stand. In this train car there are two enemy parties. It would be better to get somewhere else where we can control the encounter better. Phin doesn't like being sandwiched between the two groups.
True. But if you escape alone, you'd be fighting alone against any other enemy parties you might run into in the other cars.
@Kirsdrake: With the Disguise Self spell, would you allow her just to disguise the artifact by making it invisible? Or would she have to make it look like something else? Her Dragonmark allows her to use disguise self - which would be quite the way for her to find that out :) and I'd like to disguise it before she becomes visible again. I assume that she'll be visible next round, is that right? I realize that it won't help if the bad guys can see magical auras but Phin doesn't know that much about magic. I'm thinking she'd just be willing the artifact to either look different so they couldn't try taking it.
@Baran: Sorry for not making better use of your Vanish spell but I didn't know we'd be choosing to fight...
Well, the wording is a bit ambiguous... "You make yourself – including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment – look different". I'd say you can't just vanish a spear-size weapon, but you could certainly make it look like an ordinary spear. The less an illusion changes it, the less changes for someone to figure out there is an illusion around and disbelieve it.
Sounds good to me. That will be what she does but she won’t realize that she’s done it until later when someone (like Baran) points it out.
Another question…would she always see through the illusion or would it affect her if she doesn’t realize she’s done it?
Another question…would she always see through the illusion or would it affect her if she doesn’t realize she’s done it?
Fantastic - I love it!
also
I think you used vanish very well - hid away, got your barings, made a new plan, perfect!
Another question…would she always see through the illusion or would it affect her if she doesn’t realize she’s done it?
Hmm... ordinarily, if she believed her own illusion and saw the Tower change shape, she'd immediately get a save to disbelieve it. But since this thing has already shown you some unusual powers she might think it was doing what she wanted once again. The Dragonmark is part of Phin, but since she's never got any real training in its use it makes sense that she would use it instinctively.
So, either way works for me. Go with the one that you feel like writing more!
I can't believe I spent nearly an hour to end up with 2 lines of dialogue. Problem with turn based movement I guess - I just couldn't find anything better.
Sorry @Kirsdrake.
”The Pilfered Wand are not here for you, but for the arti-“
There is a slight chance they are here for the artichokes ;).